Recent revelations show that U.S. Security Associates (USSA), charged with protecting the Philadelphia Nursing Home, does a poor job of screening its employees and that its on-site manager at the nursing facility has a record of criminal and sexual harassment allegations against him.

The company, responsible for protecting residents and employees at the publicly funded, 451-bed facility has also been working under an expired contract since June 30, 2009. City Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds Brown is calling for the city to seek a new security company.

"Given that there is not a current contract between U.S. Security Associates and Philadelphia Nursing Home, we believe that the contract needs to be put out to bid. If the allegations of security personnel being fired for reporting that they are being harassed are true, there is even further motivation to put this contract up for bid now, not later. Contracts need to go to a responsible bidder - sexual harassers need not apply," said Brown.

Questions have been raised about whether USSA's contract at the nursing home ever got the necessary city approvals. The city owns the nursing facility but contracts with a private, Philadelphia-based operator, Fairmount Long-Term Care, to run it. The contract prohibits Fairmount from entering into any subcontracts without the city's prior written approval.

SEIU Local 32BJ and a citywide committee of security officers also called on the city Public Health Commissioner Donald Schwarz to investigate the concerns of nearly 100 nurses who have signed a petition calling the nursing home's site manager, Todd Messer "a threat" to workers. In addition to their petition, more than 900 concerned citizens and supporters of Stand For Security have called in writing for USSA's removal from the facility.

Messer was charged with two felony counts of neglect in Indiana in 2004 for leaving a loaded handgun in a place accessible to children, and failing to provide a safe or sanitary home or adequate supervision, thereby endangering a 22-month old and a six-month old. He ultimately pleaded to one misdemeanor account.

USSA also has sexual harassment charges pending against it for the behavior of Messer. The charges were filed by a former security officer at the nursing home, Lisa Garner, who lost her job without explanation after rejecting advances by Messer. She recently shared her own story on video. Messer has a checkered background: He moonlighted as a promoter and scout for a pornographic magazine, "Hot Bods," and left his "Hot Bods" business cards at his workstation in the nursing home.

USSA secures more than 10 locations in Philadelphia and the suburbs, including St. Christopher Children's Hospital, Hahnemann Hospital and the Art Institute.

Watch Lisa Garner tell her story in the featured video. Then join her and hundreds of other Stand For Security supporters who are calling on the City of Philadelphia to remove U.S. Security Associates from the Philadelphia Nursing Home here: www.standforsecurity.org/lisa

Lisa Garner and her family could be left out in the cold this holiday season -- simply because she complained about being harassed at work.

In 2010, Lisa had worked as a security officer for 10 years at the Philadelphia Nursing Home. She loved her job protecting residents and staff -- until another security officer allegedly began to harass her repeatedly with inappropriate comments and lewd behavior .

When Lisa complained to her employer, U.S. Security Associates, she realized she was taking a risk. She didn't expect it to end with losing her job this year.

When Lisa was let go from her position, she filed a complaint with the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission. But while she waits for an investigation, she's still unemployed, living on welfare and about to lose her home.

Meanwhile, the man who harassed her still works for U.S. Security Associates supervising new female employees. And U.S. Security still has a contract with the nursing home.

Sexual harassment is unacceptable, and the worst part is that Lisa's not alone. Since 2002, at least 23 women employed by U.S. Security Associates have filed federal suits or official complaints alleging sexual and other forms of harassment and discrimination at the company. Women shouldn't have to choose between being abused and being unemployed.

Former employees like Lisa Garner are speaking out to put an end to sexual harassment and discrimination at U.S. Security Associates. We're standing with them until U.S. Security Associates fixes its irresponsible and unacceptable behavior.

Join us in fighting back. Send a message to the Philadelphia Health Commissioner urging him to remove U.S. Security Associates from the Philadelphia Nursing Home here: www.standforsecurity.org/lisa

Several Washington, DC media outlets -- from The Washington Post to Fox 5 Television -- have been reporting on the failure of U.S. Security Associates (USSA) to prevent multiple simulated security breaches in the District's high-profile public buildings.

The media scrutiny stems from an internal Government of the District of Columbia memo -- obtained through the Freedom of Information Act by Stand for Security -- that reveals both huge security gaps and poor training standards at USSA.

U.S. Security Associates, the fourth largest security firm in the country, is once again under scrutiny in the Washington, D.C. media for putting the public at risk.

"If you felt like there's no way anyone could ever smuggle a cellphone bomb through security at the Wilson Building, you need to reassess your feelings," writes Alan Suderman in the Washington City Paper this week.

An internal memo recently obtained by SEIU has revealed more than a dozen different potential security breaches at D.C. government buildings, including some that are supposed to be protected by U.S. Security Associates, between July 2010 and June 2011.

Today a grateful nation honors its Veterans. But in its treatment of one New Jersey veteran, U.S. Security Associates has not.

PHOTO: United States Marine
Daniel Pereira was fired
by U.S. Security Associates
after he voiced support
for a security officers' union.

For Newark security officer Daniel Pereira, Semper Fidelis, "Always Faithful," is more than just a motto. It's a way of life.

After 15 weeks of training as a United States Marine, Daniel learned the meaning of the famous Marine Corps motto along with the core values -- including justice, dependability, integrity, initiative, unselfishness, and knowledge -- that make a U.S. Marine.

Then he put those values to the test in Iraq.

Daniel came home after 13 months of serving his country. Like other returning service men and women, Daniel ran into a problem. What kind of job was he coming home to?

"I got a job with U.S. Security Associates," he says. "It was the best thing I could find."

Security officers across the country have U.S. Security Associates under surveillance. Officers working to raise standards with Stand For Security and local community members have been speaking out about the risks that U.S. Security Associates could present to clients, officers and the public across the country.

Last week, Stand for Security members passed out leaflets at Bank of the West in San Francisco, California, providing details on USSA's record of putting both their own employees and the public at risk. Officers gathered in Los Angeles as well, to promote responsible security that can lead to a stronger, safer community.

This week, Stand for Security was in Phoenix for the International Facility Management Association's World Workplace Conference and Expo, the largest annual conference for facility management professionals. The conference aims to address strategies for managing facilities, which may include contracting with private security firms.

Members of Stand for Security handed out information to educate conference attendees on how to go about hiring a responsible security contractor and also how to perform a background check on security firms to make sure there are no skeletons in the closet.

A background check on U.S. Security Associates (USSA) reveals closeted skeletons aplenty. At the conference, Stand for Security members distributed critical information about USSA regarding failed weapons tests , sexual harassment and discrimination lawsuits, health and safety violations, and having public contracts cancelled because of certification and training issues.

Several facilities managers expressed gratitude for the USSA information and voiced strong support for Stand for Security's mission--raising security industry standards throughout the United States.

We look forward to seeing our friends again at future industry conferences.

On the anniversary of a multi-million dollar lawsuit stemming from an employee's sexual harassment complaints, U.S. Security Associates seems to be content to keep sweeping their harassment issues under the rug.

One year ago today, U.S. Security Associates (USSA) - the fourth largest security firm in the country - was found liable by a federal jury in what one judge called "the most egregious case of sexual harassment, retaliation and tortuous conduct that has been tried in this court." The court issued judgment against USSA for more than $2.3 million.

The United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama found USSA liable for compensatory and punitive damages for sexual harassment, unlawful retaliation, wanton supervision and/or retention of an offending supervisor. That supervisor was Chris Hargrove, who was found to have committed assault and battery, invasion of privacy and intentionally inflicting emotional distress upon employee Jamie Marks.

Jamie Marks won her trial. But the company's trouble with Chris Hargrove didn't end there.

On Saturday, security officers who protect New York City were honored at a Security Recognition Ceremony hosted by SEIU Local 32BJ with NYPD Commissioner Ray Kelly. The ceremony served to honor the men and women who lost their lives on September 11th, and to award recognition to private security officers who have excelled in the line of duty.

Ten years ago, 10 SEIU security officers lost their lives while on duty at the World Trade Center towers. As security officers do every day, they served as first responders to a serious emergency, aiding cops, firefighters and rescue crews who came to the scene.

"Because of the nature of your work, you are in a better position than most to spot the indicators of terrorism," New York City Police Commissioner Ray Kelly told security officers present at the ceremony. "We depend on you. We depend on you to stay engaged, to act as our eyes and ears."

When Denver Police were recently called to a domestic disturbance on the campus of Colorado Heights University, and subsequently fired several rounds at a suspect running on foot, there was just one security officer on duty protecting the entire 74-acre campus.

Unfortunately, this is standard policy for Colorado Heights University, and after witnessing too many risks to the campus community, the security officers employed by the school are speaking out. On Friday, officers rallied alongside local supporters and students who are tired of the lack of safety on campus.

Previously this year, six security officers were employed by Colorado Heights University to provide public safety. What they experienced on the job shows a seeming lack of commitment to safety at the university. Not only was just one officer assigned to be on duty at a time, they also had a lack of training, benefits, vacation or paid sick time -- and when they asked for a raise for their hard work, their shifts were cut back instead.