Jimena Rojas

At a time when many workers are facing deep cuts in pay and benefits — leaving families, communities, and local businesses to suffer the consequences — union security officers at Harvard University have won significant job improvements. With the support of Harvard students, dining hall workers, and Cambridge community leaders, on September 23 Harvard’s 270 … Read more

In September 2011, we published the second issue of Unsafe With U.S. Security Associates, a newsletter to inform security directors, property managers, office building tenants and others about the business practices of U.S. Security Associates. You can download it as a PDF here.

Security officers and supporters have been speaking out against sexual harassment at one of the top security firms in the country, U.S. Security Associates, Inc. This week in Orlando, members of Stand for Security attended the ASIS International conference, an annual convention for the security industry featuring an exhibit hall, seminars and special events. We … Read more

On October 26, 2010, the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama rendered a final verdict against U.S. Security Associates (USSA) and its manager Christopher Hargrove for sexual harassment, retaliation, wanton supervision, intentional infliction of emotional distress, assault and battery, and invasion of privacy. The $2.3 million verdict brought justice to Alabama … Read more

As the 57th annual gathering of the American Society for Industrial Security gets underway, two prominent women’s groups and the Service Employees International Union are calling on Atlanta-based U.S. Security Associates (USSA)–the nation’s fourth-largest private security firm–to adopt procedures to rid its worksites of sexual harassment. “Sexual harassment ruins lives, lowers productivity, and harms businesses,” … Read more

A clear majority of American officers in the Twin Cities suburbs have voted yes for SEIU Local 26 – and American Security has even acknowledged that. Since then, American Security has refused to sit down and start bargaining a contract. Why is American Security refusing to sit down to start bargaining a contract? As a … Read more

Recently we’ve been covering U.S. Security Associates’ multiple problems with sexual harassment. As is so often the case, when you examine the record of a company in one area, problems in other areas begin to appear. The Houston Chronicle has been reporting on U.S. Security Associates’ (USSA) $14.8 million tax-payer funded contract with the Port … Read more

Bring your families join SEIU members for our annual member picnic. It’s going to be on Saturday, September 10th from noon to 2pm at Wabun Park (4655 46th St St, Minneapolis, MN 55417). See you there! Steve Payne 612-331-8336 x 26 spayne@seiu26.org

Security officers in Miami say they’ve been underpaid for two years by Kent Security, and they’ve had enough. On Wednesday, dozens of officers who protect public sites at the City of Miami and the Miami Parking Authority went on strike to protest what they believe is Kent Security’s violation of the Miami Living Wage Ordinance. … Read more

Dozens of security officers who protect Philadelphia’s cultural institutions, businesses and public buildings rallied last week to urge U.S. Security Associates Inc. (USSA) to clean up its act. The rally was organized not long after a local security manager was accused of sexual harassment and found leaving his business cards of his pornographic side business … Read more

Officials in Miami, Florida say they are investigating Kent Security, a private security firm that has been paid more than $358,000 this year in a taxpayer-funded contract. According to The Miami Herald, the city’s procurement director, Kenneth Robertson, told the paper that his department is looking into Kent’s payroll records to investigate whether the company … Read more

Despite paying more than $4 million in the past year for judgments and consent orders arising from sexual harassment and worker retaliation, U.S. Security Associates (USSA) seems to have no qualms about ignoring workplace abuse. In Philadelphia, two female employees have recently filed sexual harassment complaints with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and … Read more

After hearing alarming evidence of sexual harassment at U.S. Security Associates (USSA), activists began a public education campaign to raise awareness about the company’s record. Groups of security officers and community supporters handed out flyers this week at various sites across the country that have contracts with the security firm. The flyer calls attention to … Read more

For U.S. Security Associates, the troubled national security firm, the bar just keeps getting lower. We’ve mentioned before how the company is driving down standards in the security industry. The company has recently set another low bar in Colorado, where they bid the lowest out of 14 security firms for a contract to protect Larimer … Read more

In a victory for the Washington DC community, Mayor Vincent Gray recently withdrew the contract of security firm U.S. Security Associates, Inc. (USSA). The firm had been awarded contracts to protect the city’s public buildings and schools since 2009, and had held an $18 million contract for the past year. In a letter to Council … Read more

Security officers in Miami, Florida, have voted to authorize a lawful strike unless their employer, Kent Security, raises their wages to comply with the Miami Living Wage Ordinance. The officers, who work hard to protect Miami’s public buildings, called on city officials earlier this year to investigate allegations of wage theft by Kent. On April … Read more

The private security industry is large, fast-growing, and global. Unfortunately, it is also plagued by low wages, high turnover, poor training and lax oversight–all of which put the public, security officers and the sites they guard, at risk. Security officers are our first line of defense, protecting millions of lives and billions of dollars worth … Read more

Since 2009 U.S. Security Associates (USSA) has provided security at Washington D.C.’s public buildings and schools. Now the Council of the District of Columbia is reviewing USSA’s contract for D.C.’s public schools and will soon review the private security company’s contract for the rest of the District’s public facilities. The Council should look at USSA’s … Read more

Congratulations to Washington reporter Jeffrey Anderson for bringing to light the poor track record of U.S. Security Associates (USSA) and its subcontractor Watkins Security Agency, a firm hired to protect children in Washington’s public schools. USSA’s contract for the DC Public Schools is now under review by the City Council, as will soon be USSA’s … Read more

A group of private security officers in Miami could receive more than $100,000 in unlawfully withheld pay after filing a complaint against one of the city’s contracted security companies. Security officers who work hard to protect Miami’s public buildings are calling on city officials to investigate allegations of wage theft by their employer, Kent Security. … Read more

Now it’s time to start bargaining a contract so we can join with the 1000 Union Officers in Minneapolis and St Paul. Our Next Steps to Winning a Good Contract: “I’ll be at the meeting on the 4th to make sure we win a good contract. I’m also going to make sure all my co-workers … Read more

Security officers in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania have been working to raise standards and improve their jobs, highlighting the need for better training in the private security industry. In February, security officers spoke at a public hearing in front of the Pittsburgh City Council, describing how the city’s lack of security training requirements are a risk to … Read more

In Denver, Colorado, labor unions, activists and community members came together this week to rally in support of workers’ rights and to protest the ongoing political attacks against working families. Members of SEIU Local 105, the American Federation of Teachers, the AFL-CIO, Teamsters and groups of local workers and community activists marched through downtown Denver … Read more

There is a strong debate happening across the country these days about the role of unions in the economy. But as lawmakers attack the middle class by gutting collective bargaining in several states, a majority of the American public supports workers’ rights and the freedom to form a union. In a New York Times/CBS poll … Read more

Exposed to blood-borne pathogens! Investigate Universal Protection Service To: North County Transit District Board Launch an urgent investigation into reports that your transit security officers are exposed to blood born pathogens without training or hepatitis B vaccinations. Choose a responsible contractor for the North County Transit system and keep security officers and the public safe! … Read more

Stephen Murray is interested in making sure the economy works for hard-working people, and he’s starting where he lives and works in Houston, Texas. Stephen works as a security officer at the Criminal Justice Center and Wilson Building, monitoring the front entrances and directing people who come into the buildings. “I’ve been in security for … Read more

Joshua Rojas works the overnight shift at the Harris County Probation Office in Houston, Texas as a security officer. His role is vital — he monitors the front entrance, watching everyone who enters and leaves the building, including prisoners who are turning themselves in. In spite of the important role Joshua plays in keeping Houston … Read more

Sharon Robertson is a full-time security officer at the Metro Rail Operation Center. Her job is to keep Houston safe. She has responded to emergency situations, and she knows that a few minutes can be the difference between life and death. “One time, someone drove their car into a ditch,” Sharon says. “I had to … Read more

As a security officer, I protect staff, patients and visitors at Temple University Hospital in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. For the past 8 years I’ve worked for the same private security company. I started out making 8 dollars an hour; and now even after 8 years I only make $10 an hour. I am organizing with my … Read more

I’m a security officer at one of the most active sites for my company — Eastridge Mall, a mall that is located on the east side of San Jose and which often attracts gang activity. In the month of January of this year, there were seven homicides in the area surrounding the mall. In addition … Read more

I work as a security officer for a private security company protecting Temple University Hospital in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. My starting salary with this company was about $9.15 an hour, and now after 6 years I still only make $9.50 an hour. There are many reasons why I am organizing with my co-workers but the one … Read more

Members of the City Council in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, are calling for a new commission to address the need to improve the jobs of hundreds of officers who protect downtown buildings. The decision came after a public hearing held last week at which local security officers spoke about problems plaguing the security industry. The proposed commission … Read more

At a rally held in Philadelphia on Martin Luther King Day, elected leaders and community members joined security officers to kick off a new effort to improve standards in Philadelphia’s security industry. More than 300 supporters gathered to discuss how better security jobs and greater public safety can help communities struggling in a poor economy. … Read more

“Security officers who protect employees at multibillion-dollar corporations should be able to afford to provide for their families,” said Bill O’Dea, Chairman of the Hudson County Board of Chosen Freeholders, during a public rally held last week for improving the security industry. Security officers and community leaders came together in Jersey City, New Jersey, to … Read more

When considering three different security officers, one stationed at a federal government building, one at a chemical waste plant and another at a corporate office park, we expect that each officer received additional unique training for their particular worksite. But more often than not, security officers are not given the specialized training they need to … Read more

Below is a letter from security officer John Vinje to suburban security officers in the Twin Cities area. To My Fellow Suburban Security Officers: Hope you all had a safe & Happy Holiday Season! Now that we are past this very busy time of the year, we can start thinking about why it’s important to … Read more

As security officers across the country are calling for improved standards in the security industry, elected leaders in Indianapolis are proposing an ordinance that would make the city safer. Currently, Indiana has no regulations for training private security officers, in spite of the fact that they protect millions of lives and billions of dollars worth … Read more

Last Wednesday, December 8th, politicians, community leaders and private security officers took a stand for better security in Indianapolis. City-County Council Minority Leader Joanne Sanders has introduced a bill, Proposal No. 299, 2010: The Safe and Secure Bill, to the Marion County City-County Council. The bill is focused on raising the training standards of the … Read more

G4S Security officer Emory Hall has been a member of SEIU Local 26 since September 3, 2010, when Emory and his co-workers won union representation. Now he’s assisting suburban security officers fighting for representation and a strong union. “I like my job and I like being a union member,” he says. “When people join together, … Read more

In Indianapolis this week, local veterans were joined by faith and community leaders for a press conference about improving security jobs in the community. Similar to press conferences held in Cincinnati and Portland, security officers who once served in our armed forces stood up and called for the better training, higher pay and affordable healthcare … Read more

This week in Cincinnati, Ohio, veterans, armed service personnel and local community leaders held a press conference calling for improved jobs in the security industry – a sector in which many veterans and armed service personnel work as security guards after serving their country. Speakers at the event included Alfonso Hooks, a veteran, Cristy Riehle, … Read more

Why We’re Standing for Security in Colorado We are part of 35,000 private security officers united in SEIU, the nation’s largest security officers union. We protect property and people in facilities–including high-rise commercial buildings, banks, power plants, airports, warehouses, stadiums and the high-tech industry–all across America. Our goal is to raise our industry’s standards by … Read more

Over the last few days, we’ve been asking you to take a stand against irresponsible security contractors. The response has been overwhelming. As we mentioned on Tuesday, one private security firm called U.S. Security Associates, a security contractor at schools, airports, seaports, stadiums and public buildings across the nation, put thousands at risk by failing … Read more

When you see a security officer as you drop your child off at school, catch a flight at the airport or watch a game at a stadium, you assume you’re in a safe environment protected by responsible companies. But some of our nation’s private security firms – like U.S. Security Associates – are letting down … Read more

“I’ve worked for non-union companies,” security officer and SEIU Local 26 member Harrison Bullard says, “and they were… okay. But there was always some favoritism and repercussions if you spoke up about issues in the workplace.” “With a union, you will have a voice,” Harrison adds. “Suburban officers should know that with a union, you … Read more

“We all do better when we work together as one voice,” says Securitas security officer at and SEIU Local 26 member Donna Alexander. “I found being on the bargaining committee for our last contract to be an exhilarating experience because we were so much more effective working together.” Growing up in a household where unions … Read more

Talk to Roger Schutt for a few minutes about organizing security officers in the suburbs, and you gain an appreciation of why his fight is so vital. A Whelan security officer at Boston Scientific’s campus, Roger routinely receives the appreciation of the tenant’s employees and property managers–but can barely live on his wages while supporting … Read more

Security officers from around the country are joining SEIU Local 26 members and community allies to organize suburban security officers in the Twin Cities. Through the 17th to the 24th, community allies, SEIU Local 26 members and community allies will come together to help in the campaign. Can you join us for a shift? Use … Read more

There are over one million private security officers in America today–more than double the number of police officers. These private security officers are often the first responders to life-threatening emergency situations and they are a critical partner in keeping the public safe nationwide. But as we mark nine years since the attacks of 9/11 we … Read more