Published: April 14, 2010

(New York)  --  Apartment dwellers in New York City could be taking out their own garbage and opening their own doors before long.

Thousands of apartment house workers including doormen and porters rallied on Park Avenue on Tuesday to push their demands for a better contract.

A strike would affect every borough except the Bronx.  The present contract expires on April 21st.

The workers, members of Local 32BJ are unhappy with management's latest offer calling for cuts in holiday pay, personal and sick time.

The Real Estate Advisory Board also wants union members to kick in for some of their health insurance premiums and accept changes in overtime rules.  Board President Howard Rothchild says, "this is not the time for traditional wage and benefit increases that we've seen in the past."

The last apartment house workers strike in the city in 1991 lasted for nearly two weeks.