Jimena Rojas
We are sad to announce the sudden loss of one of our nation’s most vital & energetic union leaders – 32BJ SEIU President Hector Figueroa
Héctor Figueroa is one of our nation’s most prominent Latino labor leaders and a ‘champion for working people, minorities, the poor, the voiceless,’…
S4S Newsletter Vol 1: Portland Security Officers WIN Pay Raises!
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.
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This Black History Month, Meet Security Officer Anthony Peterson – An Army Veteran Fighting for Better Pay & Respect for ALL Security Officers
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,…
This Veterans Day, Show Your Support by Taking One Second to Help Security Officers Who Served
This Veterans Day, it is important we honor the sacrifices our Veterans make each and every day to keep our country safe….
Meet Officer Rhudy — “The more we work together to improve our lives, the safer our communities will be. When we have respect, a voice on the job and fair pay, we can contribute to society and send our kids to decent schools.”
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….
Meet Veteran & Security Officer Peterson, fighting for better wages so officers don’t have to work so much overtime — “I give up time with my family & I barely see my 8-year-old. I miss spending time with her.”
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….
Gear Review! Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Handcuffs!
Security officer Preston breaks down the modern handcuff — anatomy, history, brands, and the case for serious training time on the tools you carry every day….
Union Security Officers in Seattle just WON a new contract that raises the minimum wage of Union Security Officers to $17.27 by 2022
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….
More Than 100 Janitors, Security Officers & Supporters—Including Survivors of Assault–March 100 Miles in Support of Protection Against Sexual Violence at Work
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….
Union Security Officer Encourages others to Stick Together – Respect, Equality, Better Pay & Job Security
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….
Labor Day is All About Celebrating a Better Life for Working People – It’s a Good Day to Meet Morgan McCormick, A San Diego Security Officer Fighting for Her Future
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….
Houston Janitors & Security Officers Urge City Hall to Hire Only Responsible Contractors
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….
Silicon Valley Security Officers Ratify First Contract in One of the Largest Private-Sector Organizing Efforts in California History
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 Who are Paid Minimum Wage and Fear Homelessness for Their Families Join Together in Fight for Good Union Jobs
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 & Supporters Speak Out on Crisis within Security Industry
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….
SHOE GUIDE — A Security Officers Best Friend!
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….
“I have to live simply on what the security companies pay us. I have to plan very carefully to survive on my hourly wage.”
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….
“It’s not just me, my co-workers are struggling too. So many of us work 2nd jobs, work overtime, and we have to move our families to Mexico—this is just so we can pay our bills, nothing extra,” he says.
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….
Meet Officer Maria Pfende — “Promotions are hard to come by for women in our industry. Sometimes they don’t support us because of our gender. But we need to keep going. We need to change this.”
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 International Women’s Day, Meet 15-year Officer Robin Morris – “Security is a male-dominated industry. Ladies, when you feel you are right, you got to speak up for yourself. You got to let people know we mean business.”
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 Heats Up as Security Officers & Supporters Highlight the Risk of Using Low-Road Contractors like First Security Services (FSS)
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….
“I just wish it wasn’t this hard to survive” – Meet LeAndre Aubrey. Hear why he thinks First Security Services needs to do better & what Black History Month means to him
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….
Security Officers Rally at Apple Shareholder Meeting Over Tech Giant’s Broken Promise to Drop Low-Road Contractor – Security Industry Specialists
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….
I work two jobs, 16-hour days, and I still struggle. For Black History Month, I’m sharing my story so that we stay encouraged and hold security companies accountable
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….
I’ve been a security officer for 20 years and I’m struggling on what they pay. For Black History Month, I want to share my story and our fight to win improvements in San Diego
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….
U.S Security Associates Sees Responsibility Status Plunge to Lowest Possible Level in Silicon Valley and Portland, OR Markets
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 Standing Up & Demanding Employers Follow the Law regarding the Sick Leave Ordinance
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….
I’m a Security Officer and I was Disciplined for Accepting Help during Hurricane
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….
With grit and determination, Houston janitor Manuel Torres helped Hurricane Harvey victims. With grit and determination, he will win a union.
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 Garcia Joined Houston Security Officers & Janitors in Release of Report on Allegations of Wage Theft by City Contractors
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….
Houston security officer Lois Lockett lost nearly everything in Hurricane Harvey—except her desire to fight for a union
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 Security Officers Rally at Steps of Low-Road Contractor First Security Services
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….
“I told myself to be the strongest woman in there.” How a Houston janitor became a hero of Hurricane Harvey
As a janitor at Houston’s George R. Brown Convention Center, Anita Hernández normally cleans restrooms, windows and escalators. Hurricane Harvey blew away…
First Security Loses Largest Account at Premier Bay-Area Office Park
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…
Safety Awareness Materials for Responders During Hurricanes
The National Institute for Environmental Health Science (NIEHS) has created a brochure as a health and safety resource for support personnel participating…
Tech Workers Join Fight to Demand Amazon End Silence & Provide Security Officers a Fair Path to Join Union
Breaking News — Tech workers, joined by security officers, janitors, clergy, union members and supporters to deliver a petition signed by thousands…
Seattle Security Officer Fights to Improve Working Conditions with Contractor U.S. Security Associates
Iris Green has been a security officer protecting people and property in the Seattle area for more than six years. “I love…
U.S Security Associates Sees Contractor Responsibility Status Plunge to Lowest Possible Level in Seattle Market
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…
Security Contractor Guard Management, Inc. (GMI) See’s Responsibility Rating Nose-Dive
Guard Management, Inc. (GMI) is the third largest security contractor in San Diego, protecting nearly 1.4 million feet of property. However, GMI…
It’s Heating Up as Security Officers Rally at First Security Sites throughout San Jose
Earlier this month hundreds of security officers and janitors held multiple rallies in front of low-road security contractor First Security–a private company…
San Diego Security Officer Speaking Up for Better Communication & Fairness at the Worksite
Angel Rodriquez got his start in security when he was a teenager working on movie sets in his hometown of New York….
San Diego Security Officer Fighting to Make Improvements in Training & Pay — “Security isn’t your average job. It’s important. And everyone deserves to be safe.”
Ever since he can remember, Abraham Gandara has wanted to keep people safe and secure. When he was young, he thought about…
Washington State Labor Community Sends Strong Message to Amazon Demanding They Hold Their Security Contractor Accountable
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…
Security work changed her life, and now this San Diego officer is changing the industry for the better
Maria Ortega is a long-time security officer in San Diego. Before she started her career protecting people and property, she was married…
This Memorial Day, Let's Remember Those Who Served, Support Those Still Serving
Memorial Day is a day to remember and honor those who served. Let’s support those still serving….
It's working! When we stand together, we win! (but it's not over…)
Security officers who protect Amazon headquarters in Seattle just won fair religious policies at work….
Seattle Council-member Kshama Sawant Calls on Office of Labor Standards to Investigate Amazon contractor Security Industry Specialists (SIS)
We all know security is a hard job that takes courage….
Thousands of May Day marchers head to Amazon headquarters as faith leaders demand tech giant hold security contractor SIS accountable
On May Day thousands of security officers, faith leaders, tech workers and supporters rallied at the steps of Amazon’s sprawling tech campus in Seattle demanding the tech giant hold their security contractors accountable….
Faith leaders join security officers in fight for fairness at Amazon headquarters in Seattle
Last Wednesday, Security Officer Abdinisir Elmi, along with colleagues and supporters, entered the offices of Security Industry Specialists (SIS)—the company contracted by…
Security officer who protected Amazon headquarters quits over disrespectful treatment by contractor Security Industry Specialists (SIS)
Milgo Sharif loved her job as a security officer. The best part of each day was working with the team of guards…