Stand for Security Press Releases

Workers With No Healthcare Protecting Kaiser Facilities, Security Contractor May Be Misleading California’s Largest Healthcare Provider

Stand for Security WebMaster — Thu, 08 May 2008 13:50:23 +0000

Many Inter-Con Security Officers Report They Don’t Have Healthcare, 41% Surveyed Say Can’t Afford Family Health Insurance Plan

Oakland, Calif.—In the heart of California’s leading healthcare provider, Kaiser Permanente, an increasing number of security officers report they either don’t have health insurance or can’t afford the plan for their families.

Kaiser contractor Inter-Con Security is supposed to provide all 1,500 officers who protect Kaiser patients and employees with individual healthcare after the first 90 days of employment. But an increasing number of workers report that Inter-Con is not following through with promises to workers.

“I have three kids and I’ve been working for Inter-Con at Kaiser for almost two years. I usually work 40 hours a week, but Inter-Con has me classified as ‘on-call,’ so I can’t get health insurance for myself or my kids through my job,” said Renee Meyers, a security officer in Santa Rosa.

As more and more workers report that Inter-Con is keeping workers on temporary or “on-call” status for months or years, it’s still unclear whether Inter-Con is misleading Kaiser or if Kaiser is simply turning a blind eye to these tactics which short-change workers.

“It’s unacceptable that a healthcare leader like Kaiser has this many workers under their roof that don’t have health insurance. These officers put their lives on the line every day, and if they get hurt or get sick, they need healthcare. Their families need healthcare,” said Faith Culbreath, president of SEIU SOULA which represents more than 5,000 security officers in Southern California.

A recent survey conducted by SEIU of Inter-Con officers revealed that 41% of officers who responded said they cannot afford the family health insurance plan.

“I’m a single mother, and the insurance plan is too expensive for me to enroll my two kids. Plus, without paid sick days, I can’t afford to get sick or use my own insurance. If I were to have to miss even one week I would be in danger of losing my apartment,” said Dale Brown, a security officer in Sacramento.

More than 400 security officers who work at Kaiser are in the middle of an unfair labor practice strike against their employer, Inter-Con. Inter-Con has repeatedly violated workers’ civil rights by threatening, harassing, intimidating and interrogating officers. The strike affects 23 Kaiser facilities statewide. Officers in Northern California started the strike on Tuesday morning, May 6. Officers in Southern California will join the strike on the last day, Thursday, May 8.

With 1.9 million members, SEIU is the largest and fastest-growing union in North America and the largest property services union, representing more than 250,000 security officers, janitors, and other service workers. SEIU United Service Workers West represents 10,000 private security officers across California.

Hospital Security Officers Launch Statewide Strike to Protest Unfair Labor Practices

Anthony S Jennings — Tue, 06 May 2008 13:52:10 +0000

Hundreds of security officers responsible for protecting patients and staff at Kaiser medical facilities throughout the state launched an unprecedented three-day strike today to protest unfair labor practices by employer Inter-Con Security.

Inter-Con Legal Maneuverings Can’t Stop Statewide Security Officer Strike

Anthony S Jennings — Mon, 05 May 2008 14:08:30 +0000

Inter-Con Security filed for charges with the National Labor Relations Board last week asking the NLRB to seek a court injunction against a 3-day unfair labor practice strike by more than 400 officers who protect Kaiser facilities. But according to legal experts at SEIU, the result of such an injunction would only prevent workers from carrying picket signs – not from striking. The predominantly minority workforce is scheduled to walk off the job starting May 6 in Northern California to protest how Inter-Con has retaliated against, threatened, intimidated and spied on workers who are trying to form a union.

Inter-Con Files Charges to Try and Stop Statewide Security Officer Strike, Workers Vow to Continue

Anthony S Jennings — Fri, 02 May 2008 17:46:04 +0000

Inter-Con Security filed for charges with the National Labor Relations Board late Thursday and is asking the NLRB to seek a court injunction against a 3-day unfair labor practice strike by more than 400 officers who protect Kaiser facilities. The predominantly minority workforce is scheduled to walk off the job starting May 6 to protest how Inter-Con has retaliated against, threatened, intimidated and spied on workers who are trying to form a union.

Security officers to strike Kaiser hospitals

Anthony S Jennings — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 19:36:22 +0000

FROM CENTRAL VALLEY BUSINESS TIMES

Private security guards at Kaiser Permanente hospitals, who are actually employed by another company, say they will strike the hospitals.

The guards, represented by Service Employees International Union United Service Workers West, say their beef – wages, health insurance and other issues -- is with employer Inter-Con Security Systems Inc. of Pasadena, which holds the contract to provide the Kaiser facilities with security guards.

Read the full story at Central Valley Business Times »

Kaiser guards plan strike

Anthony S Jennings — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 19:28:16 +0000

FROM THE SACRAMENTO BEE

Hospital security officers gave a 10-day notice Friday that they will strike Kaiser Permanente in Sacramento, as well as Kaiser hospital facilities in the Bay Area and Los Angeles, to protest what they say is unfair treatment by their employer, Inter-Con.

Read the full story at the Sacramento Bee »

Inter-Con Security guards to strike at Kaiser hospitals

Anthony S Jennings — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 19:32:34 +0000

FROM THE EAST BAY TIMES

SEIU United Service Workers West announced April 25 that it has filed a 10-day strike notice against Pasadena-based Inter-Con Security Systems on behalf of security guards that the company provides to Kaiser Permanente hospitals throughout California.

The guards will hold a three-day strike at Kaiser facilities in Northern California on May 6, 7 and 8 and a one-day strike at Kaiser facilities in Southern California on May 8, according to the union.

Read the full story at the East Bay Times »

Inter-Con Security Officers to Launch Strikes at Kaiser Hospitals Across California, Defend Civil Rights

Anthony S Jennings — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 18:54:30 +0000

Security officers at Kaiser Permanente hospitals are ramping up their fight against employer Inter-Con, issuing a 10-day notice of an unfair labor practice strike in California to defend their civil rights. Inter-Con workers held the first-ever strike by hospital security officers last month in response to Inter-Con threatening, intimidating, and spying on workers who were trying to form a union for better conditions.

SEIU Leaders Appeal Directly to Kaiser

Anthony S Jennings — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 17:29:15 +0000

Unlike the Kaiser employees they protect, Inter-Con security officers work for poverty pay and without affordable family healthcare. Many Inter-Con employees make less than $9.00 per hour.

Despite working inside your hospitals and healthcare facilities, none of them have paid sick days. Read the full letter from Faith Culbreath, president of SEIU SOULA and Emily Health, Secretary-Treasurer of SEIU 24/7 to Kaiser CEO George Halvorson.

Security Guards Strike Kaiser: No Security for the Guards

Stand for Security WebMaster — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 18:34:59 +0000

FROM BEYOND CHRON

The tremor in his voice told it all. On April 4, a striking Kaiser Security Guard stood in front of over 500 union members and supporters in Oakland on the afternoon of a one day Unfair Labor Practice Strike against Bay Area Kaiser Facilities. Unfair labor practice charges were filed by SEIU Local 24/7 to protest the threats, spying and intimidation of Kaiser security guards by Inter-Con, a Kaiser subcontractor.

“I’m so glad you are here. When I walked off the job this morning, I didn’t know who was with us. I really didn’t know who else was going to go. I walked off and at first I walked alone because we are all so spread out in buildings everywhere from here to Hayward. I saw one guy, and then I saw another guy. Then I saw more guys. Then were whole bunch of us. Then I knew. That’s when I knew we weren’t alone. We did it. And now you are all here. I can’t tell you what this means.”

Read the full article »

Inter-Con security officers at Kaiser on strike as Inter-Con breaks more laws

Anthony S Jennings — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 14:35:55 +0000

Security officers employed by Inter-Con to protect Kaiser Permanente patients and staff have conducted a week of pickets and activities across California, culminating in one-day strikes and pickets today in Hayward, Fremont and Sacramento. The strikes and pickets are being conducted over unfair labor practices committed by Inter-Con at several Kaiser locations in Northern California. SEIU members, community and elected leaders and Inter-Con workers are also holding support rallies in Oakland and Los Angeles today. During pickets and actions this week, the civil rights violations and unfair labor practices committed by Inter-Con management have intensified. On Thursday, workers filed charges with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) and charges continue to pile up as Inter-Con managers break the law.

InterCon security officers at Kaiser add new strike location overnight as InterCon breaks more laws

Stand for Security WebMaster — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 17:20:36 +0000

Security officers employed by Inter-Con to protect Kaiser Permanente patients and staff have conducted a week of pickets and activities across California, culminating in one-day strikes and pickets today in Oakland (NEW LOCATION), Hayward, Fremont and Sacramento. The strikes and pickets are being conducted over unfair labor practices committed by Inter-Con at several Kaiser locations in Northern California. SEIU members, community and elected leaders, and Inter-Con workers are also holding support rallies in Oakland and Los Angeles today. During pickets and actions this week, the civil rights violations and unfair labor practices committed by Inter-Con management have intensified. On Thursday, workers filed charges with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) and charges continue to pile up as Inter-Con managers break the law.

Striking security officers file federal charges against Inter-Con

Anthony S Jennings — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 14:45:47 +0000

Security officers employed by Inter-Con to protect Kaiser Permanente patients and staff across California today filed Federal charges with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) against their employer for spying on, threatening, interrogating and intimidating workers on the job. As officers finish out a week of protests and actions, and prepare for a one-day strike on Friday, the civil rights violations and unfair labor practices committed by Inter-Con management are intensifying.

Day 3: San Francisco Security Officers’ Strike Continues

Anthony S Jennings — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 17:22:34 +0000

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 Board of Supervisors Passes Resolution in Support of Security Officers’ Strike

Stand for Security WebMaster — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 08:08:20 +0000

With private security officers employed by Securitas, ABM, and Universal Protection Services in the second day of their historic strike, Bay Area security officers won another nod of approval from the city’s elected leaders when the Board of Supervisors passed a resolution today in support of the workers’ decision to call a strike.