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INTRO
A union representing New York City's 28,000 doormen and apartment building workers rejected the contract proposal make by building owners this Wednesday. The union, Local 32 BJ, says that there are two issues on the table that affect all workers except those in the Bronx: higher wages and health care. Union members threatened to go on strike if talks fail. Giuliana Chamedes reports.
NARR
On average, New York City's doormen and building workers earn around $37,000 a year. Though they are the highest paid in the country, Matthew Nerzig of Local 32BJ says those wages aren't high enough to offset the rising cost of living in New York. Nerzig also says that New York's doormen and building workers can't afford to pay premiums on their health care.
SOT (:21) Nerzig
In-cue: The bottom line…
Out-cue: …cutting their wages dramatically.
NARR
But Jim Grossman of the Realty Advisory Board on Labor Relations says that New York's building owners are also facing rising costs.
SOT (:19)
In-cue: The basic problem is…
Out-cue: …building owners are strapped
NARR
Oscar Zapata has worked as a doorman at a Coop on Riverside Drive for the past 17 years. The health care issue is key for him.
SOT (:04)
In-cue: Let the coop pay for it, the way they've been doing.
NARR
The last time that doormen and building workers went on strike was in 1991, and the strike lasted for 10 days. Renosa Fon works as a doorman on 116th street, and because he wasn't working as a doorman in '91, he has trouble imagining how his building could function without him.
SOT (:09)
In-cue:
Out-cue:
Renosa Fon is 77 years old…and if the strike happens, he's got a plan.
SOT (:11)
In-cue: But in case….
The current contract expires on April 20th.
I'm Giuliana Chamedes, Columbia Radio News.