Thousands of New York City office-building workers could strike on New Year's Day if they don't get the wage increases their union is demanding in a new contract.

Local 32BJ of the Service Employees International Union represents 26,000 janitors, doormen, elevator operators and other workers who keep 1,000 office buildings running.

The union has said it will call a strike if significant raises needed for cost of living increases are denied.

But industry officials say the city building workers already have the highest salaries among such workers in the country.

The union has said it will tell management negotiators how large a raise it wants on Dec. 27, five days before the contract deadline.