Jimena Rojas

Héctor Figueroa is one of our nation’s most prominent Latino labor leaders and a ‘champion for working people, minorities, the poor, the voiceless,’ said union 32BJ. He died of a heart attack in New York Thursday night. Figueroa was 57 years old and has been credited with revitalizing the country’s largest union of service workers – Janitors, security … Read more

Welcome to the kick-off edition of the We Got Your 6 newsletter. As of today, more than 60,000 security officers have joined the team, formed a union and are winning better pay, benefits, respect, training and then some.

You might think protecting people is in Anthony Peterson’s DNA—his father was a long-time police officer, one brother was a Federal Officer, another a Vietnam Veteran and his sister-in-law works in law enforcement as well. “It makes family get-togethers really interesting, I’ll say that,” says Peterson Growing up in Chicago, Peterson joined the Army as … Read more

This Veterans Day, it is important we honor the sacrifices our Veterans make each and every day to keep our country safe.

Christopher Rhudy has spent ten years protecting his hometown of San Diego as a security officer. He’s organizing a union with 1,000 fellow officers to raise standards in the industry — better training, respect, fair pay, and healthcare they can actually use.

A 30-year security officer and military veteran, Tony Peterson is fighting for higher wages so he doesn’t have to work 60+ hours a week away from his 8-year-old daughter. He knows firsthand what union protection looks like — and what life is like without it.

Seattle union security officers just won a four-year contract that raises the minimum wage to $17.27 by 2022 — with five pay increases, paid vacation, and job protections along the way.

Jamila Culcleasure went from working two jobs at a non-union company to earning $3 more per hour with SEIU 6 — and getting her life back. Her message to other officers: don’t be afraid to join the union.

More than 100 janitors, security officers, and survivors of sexual assault marched 100 miles from San Francisco to Sacramento to demand passage of AB2079 — the Janitorial Survival Empowerment Act.

Morgan McCormick has been a San Diego security officer for five years — and skips meals to save money. On Labor Day, she’s asking why the people who protect the city can’t afford to live in it.

Janitors, security officers, and allies rallied at Houston City Hall this week to push the city to contract only with responsible employers — ones that pay family-sustaining wages and respect workers’ rights.

3,000 Silicon Valley security officers — including those protecting Google and Facebook — ratified their first union contract, winning immediate wage increases and employer-paid healthcare for most officers.

San Diego security officers — many paid just $11.50/hour — rallied at the County Board of Supervisors to demand family-sustaining wages and an end to contractors like USSA that have settled $21M in wage theft cases.

San Diego security officers and faith leaders took their concerns about industry turnover, low pay, and lack of training to the County Board of Supervisors — and called out USSA’s record of wage theft and discrimination.

A 14-year security supervisor shares the no-nonsense footwear guide every officer needs: lightweight, composite toe, grip, ankle support, soles, waterproofing, insoles — and the 500-mile replacement rule.

Valentino Nazarino fled violence as a child, became a San Diego security officer after 9/11, and is now organizing a union to fight discrimination and raise pay for officers across the industry.

Born and raised in San Diego, Andres Orueta had to move his family to Mexico to afford rent on what security companies pay him. Now he’s organizing a union so he can bring them home.

San Diego security officer Maria Pfende is putting herself through college while raising two boys on what her security company pays. For International Women’s Day, she wants female officers to keep studying and demanding promotions that should already be theirs.

For 15 years, Robin Morris has worked graveyard shifts to support her three kids — and watched co-workers skip medical care because the company’s plan is too expensive. Her message to female officers: speak up and let them know you mean business.

Silicon Valley officers rallied at the Fairmont Hotel to call out First Security Services — a contractor with a $600K wage-theft settlement and a ‘RED’ rating under SEIU’s Responsible Contractor Program.

LeAndre Aubrey is a security officer, father of three (with one on the way), and Type 1 diabetic who can’t afford the insulin his company’s plan covers. For Black History Month, he’s telling FSS: African Americans will speak up — and they’re building a union.

Silicon Valley officers rallied outside Apple’s shareholder meeting to demand the company honor its 2015 promise to drop Security Industry Specialists (SIS) — a contractor facing lawsuits over wage theft, discrimination, and retaliation.

Marcus Laury works two jobs, 16-hour days, and still struggles. For Black History Month, he’s calling out racism he’s faced on the job and asking officers to stay encouraged as they build a union to hold security companies accountable.

After 20 years as a security officer — even as a supervisor — Don Lewis had to pick up a second job driving just to pay rent. For Black History Month, he’s sharing why San Diego officers need a union to fight discrimination and wage theft.

USSA, the fourth-largest security contractor in the U.S., just got downgraded to RED under SEIU’s Responsible Contractor Program in Silicon Valley and Portland — over wage theft, discrimination, and a pending $21M settlement covering 15,000 California employees.

San Diego security officers — backed by clergy and hundreds of petition signatures — are demanding employers stop forcing guards to find their own replacements in order to use earned sick leave.

Houston security officer Ms. Lee Poole lost her car and apartment in Hurricane Harvey. Her employer disciplined her for accepting gift cards from co-workers — one day after she spoke publicly about wage theft alongside Texas Senator Garcia. She filed an NLRB charge.

Houston janitor Manuel Torres worked three straight days at the George R. Brown Convention Center during Hurricane Harvey — without health insurance, without a raise, on $9.35 an hour. Now he’s more determined than ever to form a union.

Texas State Senator Sylvia Garcia joined Houston security officers and janitors to release ‘Protecting Our Paychecks’ — a report documenting 35 cases of alleged wage theft by City contractors in just six months.

Lois Lockett waded through chest-deep water to escape Hurricane Harvey with only her phone and medicine. Her employer never called. She lost nearly everything — except her desire to fight for a union.

Hundreds of Silicon Valley officers rallied at University Circle to call out First Security Services — a RED-rated contractor with a $600K wage-theft settlement and a string of discrimination complaints — over retaliation against officers who speak up.

As a janitor at Houston’s George R. Brown Convention Center, Anita Hernández normally cleans restrooms, windows and escalators. Hurricane Harvey blew away her daily routine—turning her from janitor to hero. Anita was on duty when the rain started. As a survivor of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, she was worried. Katrina was terrified for her … Read more

Earlier this month low-road contractor First Security Services (AKA First Alarm Security and Patrol)–a private security company based in Northern California—lost its largest commercial account at the premier office park of Bishop Ranch in San Ramon Valley. The Bishop Ranch complex is a thriving shopping, dining and office center with thousands of visitors covering 10 … Read more

The National Institute for Environmental Health Science (NIEHS) has created a brochure as a health and safety resource for support personnel participating in hurricane response and cleanup undertakings. The goal of the tool is to help workers identify and deal with hazards they may encounter during response and cleanup activities. You can find the English booklet here and the Spanish … Read more

Breaking News — Tech workers, joined by security officers, janitors, clergy, union members and supporters to deliver a petition signed by thousands of tech workers across the country demanding Amazon end their silence and hold their security contractor, Security Industry Specialists (SIS), accountable. More than 800 officers who guard Amazon Headquarters are directly employed by … Read more

Iris Green has been a security officer protecting people and property in the Seattle area for more than six years. “I love what I do. The people, the atmosphere. I believe in always doing more than what’s expected and that helps in this industry,” she says. When she started, she was employed by a security … Read more

Seattle-U.S Security Associates is a fast-growing security contractor protecting people and property throughout our nation. Based in Georgia, the company employs thousands of security officers – the women and men who make sure the public stays safe. However, this month, their responsibility rating under SEIU’s Responsible Contractor Program (RCP) for the Seattle market plummeted to … Read more

Guard Management, Inc. (GMI) is the third largest security contractor in San Diego, protecting nearly 1.4 million feet of property. However, GMI has a long and documented track record as an irresponsible security contractor based on allegation after allegation by security officers who felt they had to file law suits and other legal complaints against … Read more

Earlier this month hundreds of security officers and janitors held multiple rallies in front of low-road security contractor First Security–a private company based in Northern California. Officers say First Security is a contractor with a host of workplace issues, including paying substandard wages and overall lack of respect for workers’ rights. “I’m out here today … Read more

Angel Rodriquez got his start in security when he was a teenager working on movie sets in his hometown of New York. Before heading to California he was a jack-of-all-trades—working construction, in hotels, you name it. A huge Yankees fan, Angel left Brooklyn and traveled to San Diego where he continues to protect people and … Read more

Ever since he can remember, Abraham Gandara has wanted to keep people safe and secure. When he was young, he thought about police work. He followed those dreams and got certified in a homeland security program before joining the security team. And today he serves as a proud bike patrol officer in San Diego. “I … Read more

This week a delegation of security officers and supporters delivered a strongly worded letter from Washington’s energetic labor community to Amazon’s headquarters in downtown Seattle. The letter, addressed to Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, highlights labor’s rising concerns over the security contractor hired to protect Amazon’s campus. Security Industry Specialists, a boutique security company based in California and … Read more

Maria Ortega is a long-time security officer in San Diego. Before she started her career protecting people and property, she was married and working at a recycling center. There she would interact with security officers every day at work. “I would see their uniforms each morning and they looked so professional and sure of themselves,” … Read more

Memorial Day is a day to remember and honor those who served. Let’s support those still serving.

Last Wednesday, Security Officer Abdinisir Elmi, along with colleagues and supporters, entered the offices of Security Industry Specialists (SIS)—the company contracted by Amazon to protect its sprawling tech campus–to confront the company regarding unfair treatment of its security guards. Elmi has worked as a security officer at SIS since 2012. He’s good at his job, … Read more

Milgo Sharif loved her job as a security officer. The best part of each day was working with the team of guards in charge of protecting the world famous company—Amazon. For two and half years she filled almost every security post there was at the tech campus while working for a company called Security Industry … Read more