Published: April 19, 2010

They're ready to strike!

The city's doormen are prepared to abandon their posts, leaving nearly 1 million New Yorkers to open their own doors and hail their own cabs, if their union can't reach a new contract with management.

Their contract expires at midnight Tuesday night.

"The steps we're taking for a possible strike are definitely beyond what we've done in the past," said Matt Nerzig of Local 32BJ of the Service Employees International Union. The union represents 30,000 doormen and other workers at 3,200 apartment buildings.

The union is working to lock in a $10million line of credit to cover strike-related costs, including strike pay to workers, Nerzig said.

Nearly 1,000 strike captains have been trained to organize picket lines. The union also has a permit for a march across the Brooklyn Bridge next Monday.

The two sides remain far apart, after entering into round-the-clock negotiations last week. After a Sunday break, negotiations begin again at 11 a.m. today at the Sheraton New York Hotel.

Building owners are seeking concessions like reduced pay for new hires, fewer sick days, reduced family insurance coverage and an end to pensions for new employees.

"There's no reason to believe things can't be worked out," said Jim Grossman of the Realty Advisory Board, which represents building owners in the negotiations.