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Gina Bower, Communications Director
(213) 926-6993 | bowersg@seiulocal1877.org

Elected, Community Leaders to Security Companies: “Respect Security Officers’ Civil Rights Now”

Saturday, September 15, 2007

SAN FRANCISCO – SEIU Local 24/7, the Bay Area’s security officers’ union representing nearly 6,000 security officers in San Francisco, Alameda and Contra Costa counties, voted overwhelmingly today to authorize the leadership of the union to call an unfair labor practice strike when necessary to defend security officers’ rights.

“Our union is preparing to file charges against some of the leading security companies in San Francisco to stop the widespread lawbreaking within our industry,” said Matt Roberts, a security officer for more than 20 years who currently works for Universal Protection Service. “Today the rank and file members of our union authorized our leadership to call a strike if necessary to put an end to the unlawful practices that companies like Securitas, Universal Protective Services and ABM engage in all the time. Justice is worth fighting for, and we are here today to say we are ready to fight.”

“Security officers are standing up for the civil rights of everyone in our community and the community is ready to stand for security,” said Doris Ward, President African American Action Network. “This absolutely is a civil rights issue.” Ward is a member of the Stand for Security Coalition of clergy, congregations, elected and community leaders in support of security officers’ efforts that also includes members of the Calif. Legislative Black Caucus, NAACP, Rev. Jesse Jackson / Rainbow Push; A. Philip Randolph Institute and Rev. Amos C. Brown, Senior Pastor of Third Baptist Church, “the oldest black church West of the Mississippi” and more.

“The security companies’ unlawful behavior is forcing us to consider going on strike. We’re here today to say that if that’s what it’s going to take, then we’re ready,” said Marcia Duncan, a security officer who works for ABM.

“Security companies break the law every day,” said Bobby Randall a security officer who currently works for Securitas. “Now we are coming together to stop them from walking all over us. We will not be silenced.”

Security companies like Securitas, Universal Protection Service and ABM are in alleged violation of security officers’ freedom of speech and other protected activities, according to charges that the union is preparing to file on behalf of several members. The vote today authorizes the leadership of the union to call an unfair labor practice strike at any time.
SEIU is the nation’s largest security officers’ union representing more than 55,000 security officers nationwide including more than 10,000 security officers across California. More than 4,000 private security officers throughout San Francisco, Alameda and Contra Costa Counties have been working with an expired contract for nearly three months. The first-ever, city-wide master contract expired June 30, 2007.