From left: 1 Lincoln Square (also known as 150 Columbus Avenue) and a pro-union flier workers distributed at the building (Building image courtesy CityRealty)

Building workers at the luxury condominium 1 Lincoln Square are attempting to unionize. But not everyone on the building’s board is supportive of the effort — and the dispute appears to be escalating. Many of the condo’s 18 doormen and other building workers want to join the Service Employees International Union 32BJ. However, the building’s recently reelected board is insisting the workers go through what can be a lengthy and costly arbitration process with the National Labor Relations Board. And in a move that labor leaders say could be illegal, the board sent a warning to a vocally pro-union doorman. [more]

Landlord David Bistricer wasn’t throwing out empty threats last week when he said he would lock workers out of Brooklyn’s 59-building Flatbush Gardens housing complex until they accepted his proposed pay cuts. According to the Wall Street Journal, around 70 porters and handymen were barred from coming to work there yesterday as union SEIU Local 32 BJ continued to spar with Bistricer’s Renaissance Equity Holdings over their contracts…. [more]