FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Gina Bowers, (310) 291-5711; Lynda Tran, (202) 907-1172

As contract talks resume for more than 4,000 Bay Area security officers…

Day 3: San Francisco Security Officers’ Strike Continues

NOON prayer vigil with faith leaders, update on contract talks today at 4:30PM

San Francisco – As contract talks for more than 4,000 Bay Area security officers resume today, workers are entering the third day of the first strike among private security officers in the history of San Francisco. To mark the first bargaining session since security officers went on strike, area faith leaders will hold a prayer vigil at NOON. An update on talks is also planned for 4:30PM.

San Francisco security officers are continuing their strike in protest of their employers’ use of intimidation, harassment, and other unlawful practices. The strike is in response to the companies’ violation of security officers’ rights during an ongoing labor dispute over industry standards.

SCHEDULE OF DAY 3 STRIKE EVENTS IN SAN FRANCISCO: Wed., September 26

7:00AM Security Officers’ Picket Lines Up

Launching Ground: One Front Street (plaza on Market between Front and First)

9:15AM March from Strike Launching Ground to Contract Talks

March Begins from One Front Street (plaza on Market between Front and First)

12:00PM Prayer Vigil with San Francisco Faith Leaders

One Front Street (plaza on Market between Front and First)

4:30PM Update on Contract Talks for more then 4,000 Security Officers

Westin Hotel (3rd Street between Mission and Market Streets)

More than 4,000 San Francisco security officers have been working without a union contract for nearly three months. Despite protecting multi-billion dollar real estate properties throughout the Bay Area owned by economic powerhouses including investment banking giant Morgan Stanley, private security officers earn less than $24,000—fully $5 an hour less than janitors who provide services in the same facilities—and are not offered affordable health insurance. Although security officers are typically first responders to emergency situations in high-rise office buildings, low wages and lack of access to quality affordable health care are contributing to a turnover rate estimated by industry experts to be as high as 300%. Coupled with inadequate training standards cited by security officers, poor conditions in the private security industry mean a greater threat to public safety and building security.

For more information visit www.StopTheDoubleStandards.org.

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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 without a union contract for nearly three months. The first-ever, city-wide union contract expired June 30, 2007.

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