Deal to avoid NYC residential building workers strike hailed by both sides as a "win-win"

A tentative deal has been struck to avoid a residential building worker strike in New York City. 

The deal was announced at a news conference Friday afternoon, preventing a strike by some 34,000 handypersons, supers, porters and doorpersons that could've gotten underway next week. 

A vote to ratify the deal won't happen until late May.

"An incredibly good deal for both sides"

"Our goals were simple: to raise the wage to a level that our members can live in this city, and we're proud to say that we did that with a $4.50 raise over the life of this agreement," SEIU - Local 32BJ President Manny Pastreich said. 

That means a raise of $9,000 for building porters by the end of the contract. 

Pastreich said the agreement also includes family health insurance with no premium sharing and a 15% increase in employee pensions starting in July. 

Pastreich had praise for his counterparts with the Real Estate Board. 

"There was never any doubt that they wanted to do the right thing for the working people who take care of the buildings, it was just how we're going to get there, and whether we had the money to get there," Pastreich said. "It's an incredibly good deal for both sides. It's a win-win." 

"A win for the residents of this great city"

"We all know the difficult circumstances facing the industry, including proposed 0% rent regulated increases for this year, and perhaps for years to come," Howard Rothschild, president of the RAB, said. "Together, we have achieved an agreement that faces these challenges head on, and it will allow us to succeed together." 

Rothschild echoed Pastreich, calling it a "win-win-win-win." 

"It's a win for employers. It's a win for the union. And most importantly, it's a win for our employees," Rothschild said. "And the last win is a win for the residents of this great city." 

Service Employees International Union - Local 32BJ voted to authorize a strike on Wednesday. Their current contract expires Monday. 

The union had been seeking higher wages, better pensions, benefits protections and lower health care costs. 

The two sides had been running out of time to come to a deal to avoid a work stoppage, which would result in a citywide scramble for landlords and their tenants. The more than 34,000 32BJ employees not only man the doors of apartment buildings, but handle maintenance and repairs, trash and recycling, as well as people moving in and out, and more. 

Historically, negotiations between the two sides have gone down to the wire. The last time building workers authorized a strike was in 2022. In that case, the two sides came to an agreement the day before the deadline. 

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and City Council Speaker Julie Menin addressed 32BJ members as they voted to authorize the strike Wednesday, expressing their support for the workers. 

The union expressed gratitude towards Mamdani for his support. Rothschild was less effusive, saying "the negotiating was done at the negotiating table."