Hundreds of residential building workers in Westchester County voted Wednesday evening to authorize the option to go on strike.

The vote was held at a packed meeting at the Westchester County Center in White Plains.

Superintendents, doormen, handymen and other workers say they are asking for a raise in their new contract to keep up with the cost of living. Wednesday's vote gave them the option of walking off the job when the current contract expires on Sept. 30.

A spokesperson for the Building and Realty Institute of Westchester says both sides are not close to an agreement, but they are hopeful an agreement will be reached before the deadline.