Published: April 26, 2010

Labour - An 11th-hour labour deal has managed avert an unprecedented spectacle in New York, the sight of the well-heeled opening their own doors.

New York City's iconic doormen haven't gone on strike in two decades, but they were ready to doff their gold braid and take to the picket line to keep their benefits.

Under the deal, the owners' realty advisory board agreed not to cut vacation and sick days and granted doormen a 10 per cent pay rise over a four-year contract. In return, the union, which represents 90 per cent of the 30,000 doormen and other building staff in Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens, agreed to find at least $70 million in health-care savings.