Tenants of the Fordham Hill Cooperative Apartments have been taking out the garbage and cleaning the hallways while the maintenance workers are on strike.

The workers went on strike after the recent blizzard that left behind two feet of snow. The workers claim management fired 10 of their coworkers illegally. They also say they have been working without a contract for more than a year.

Management representatives say the 10 workers were let go due to rising energy costs. They add negotiating with the union for a new contract hasn?t been easy because of canceled meetings. Union workers claim some management board members never showed up to negotiation meetings. They are now waiting for the management board to set up more meetings.