New Yorkers Brace for Doorman Strike

It has been nearly two decades since New Yorkers faced their last doorman strike, but as the deadline for a new contract for building workers approached, the questions being posed throughout the city remained largely unchanged on Sunday.

Who will safeguard my apartment as I sleep? Greet my children when they come home from school? Accept deliveries? Clean the hallways? Sort the mail? Operate the elevator? And who, for goodness sake, will let the cleaning lady in?

Residents, co-op boards and building management companies have been busy planning for the sudden complications that could come at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday with the possible departure of the building workers who, among many other things, hold open the city’s doors.

The 30,000 residential doormen, porters, superintendents, elevator operators and handymen now earn an average of $40,500 a year, with benefits raising the total to nearly $70,000, according to the Realty Advisory Board, which represents building owners. The workers are seeking wage increases, while building owners are pushing to reduce benefit costs.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/19/nyreg ... ke.html?hp

according to an abc news poll 40% of new yorkers will be "completely lost without my doorman." so effing sad i really don't know what to say to that.

While a doorman might be a nice perk it is not needed. It really isnt. Why someone who swings a door, looks at a security camera and hails a cab needs a union is beyond me. Why do garbage men and doormen make more than pilots?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by hiss srq

While a doorman might be a nice perk it is not needed. It really isnt. Why someone who swings a door, looks at a security camera and hails a cab needs a union is beyond me. Why do garbage men and doormen make more than pilots?

---

As you said, it is a perk, some of these people are business owners & their residence becomes an extension of work, for others, they entertain people & the doorman comes in handy.

If the residence want to pay for the perk, raise their association fee.....

Phew, strike averted. The city's doors are safe!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by GothamSpotter

Phew, strike averted. The city's doors are safe!

---

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/36671092/ns ... _business/

New York City’s doormen strike averted
Deal includes 10 percent wage increase over life of contract

The settlement, reached just minutes after a 12:01 a.m. Wednesday deadline, calls for a four-year contract with a nearly 10 percent increase in wages and no cuts in benefits for workers.

A commitment by the union to create savings of at least $70 million annually in health care expenses enabled the wage increases, Rothschild said.

Whats a doorman :mrgreen: :mrgreen:

Quote:

---

Why do garbage men and doormen make more than pilots?

---

UPS drivers make more money and have a great retirement too, so? What does it matter? They have better unions for one thing.