Jimena Rojas

ABM security officer and SEIU Local 26 member Renita Whicker knows first-hand what a great union contract can do for officers who’ve won the fight for a union. She’s one of 1000 Minneapolis and St. Paul officiers who are Local 26 members. “I was on the bargaining committee and that was very exciting,” the energetic … Read more

“I’m voting for the union because I want security to be a proud and honored profession,” says Eric Meade, a security officer. Eric is especially proud of those many times when he’s come to the aid of people having medical problems. As a dedicated professional, Eric believes in loyalty to a company. But he also … Read more

Having just won a union through a majority-sign up election, 60 of Minneapolis’ Block by Block “Downtown Ambassadors” have become members of SEIU Local 26. Like suburban security officers at seven companies who are now conducting a majority sign-up election, the Block by Block Downtown Ambassadors work for a firm that agreed to be neutral … Read more

The largest security company in Washington, D.C. is putting our nation’s capital at risk, according to a letter of concern signed by all 13 members of the D.C. City Council. Last week, the Council sent a letter to the Office of Contracting and Procurement urging to “not allow this company to continue benefiting from taxpayer … Read more

Here in Massachusetts, we’re very happy to say that on June 6, 2010, 52 more security officers joined SEIU. A majority of Apollo officers working at biotech sites in Cambridge, as well as at another client’s site in Allston, signed their union cards and won representation for themselves and their co-workers. Of these 52 new … Read more

Security officers are the first responders during catastrophes, standing on the front lines every day to keep Cincinnati safe. Yet while they protect multi-million dollar properties, many go home to the poorest neighborhoods in the city. Low wages and a lack of adequate training have led to incredible turnover rates as high as 300%, impacting … Read more

Security officers are the first responders during catastrophes, standing on the front lines every day to keep Indianapolis safe. Yet while they protect multi-million dollar properties, many go home to the poorest neighborhoods in the city. Low wages and a lack of adequate training have led to incredible turnover rates as high as 300%, impacting … Read more

Torrey Nelson has worked as a security officer for almost three years without a raise. He supports his three children and his spouse, who is unemployed, on $9.50 an hour. Although he is offered healthcare through his job, it is so expensive that Torrey can only afford to cover himself under the plan. His wife … Read more

Sabra Mahrling works the second shift as a security officer at a computer company in Indianapolis. Although she has eight years of experience as a security officer, she is only paid $10.25 an hour to protect valuable assets and the people who work in the building. Sabra is responsible for running the x-ray machine to … Read more

I’m 58-years old and I remember a time when one person could support a family by working one job. That time is gone. I’ve worked in security for 27 years. In the last five years I’ve had the same pay–$10.50 an hour. I live paycheck to paycheck and I get most of my healthcare–I suffer … Read more

“For me, getting a union at work is a question of survival,” says Francine. “I get paid just $8 an hour and it’s just not enough to live on these days.” Francine Beal has worked in the security industry for 5-1/2 years and has been with her current employer for 2-1/2 years. She started at … Read more

From theft of prescription drugs and patient records to violence by unstable patients to infant kidnapping, healthcare facilities face many security threats every day. Companies stand to lose millions of dollars as a result of loss of property or increased liability if they fail to take proper measures to ensure quality security. For these reasons, … Read more

The “Great Recession” and its aftermath continue to impact our nation’s economy. For many U.S. businesses, demand has shrunk while costs have remained constant or even risen. Meanwhile, competition is as grueling as ever. But as tough as the current economic climate is, the world we operate in is even tougher. Every day, businesses face … Read more

For today’s tech companies, protecting intellectual property, sensitive information and electronics have become increasingly difficult as threats from hackers, identity thieves, corporate spies and freight hijackers become more sophisticated. In response, tech companies have poured millions of dollars into beefing up IT security at their firms. However, a short-sighted focus on high tech security solutions … Read more

Luckendy Benjamin is a youth minister in Dorchester. He also works as a security officer in a gleaming office tower in Boston. And every day he leaves this wealth and returns to his poverty-stricken neighborhood which reflects the prevalence of low wage jobs with no benefits like those which are found in the security industry. … Read more

Real estate owners and managers face unprecedented challenges today. Grubb & Ellis forecasts the 2010 year-end office vacancy rate at between 18.5 percent and 19 percent–the highest on record since the firm began tracking the national market in 1986. The average lease term, the average lease size and total leasing activity all declined as tenants … Read more

I have been working for two and a half year without any vacation. Because I have no vacation time, I have not been able to see my family and friends in Haiti for years. During the past couple of years, I have only missed work once. Every month, I send money home to my family … Read more

Security officers, we need to speak up for affordable Health Insurance. In a country with a history of people dying every day with cancer, heart attacks, and all kinds of diseases, health insurance is crucial. But can we afford health insurance in America today? Health insurance is expensive and security officers are still underpaid. Last … Read more

I moved to Boston to help my mother out because she was about to lose her home to foreclosure. I had intended to work as a security officer only for a few months. I had the good fortune to be quickly promoted to shift-supervisor and everything seemed to be going as planned. Pay was not … Read more

My name is Gerard Guerrier. I am a native of Haiti. I have been working as security officer for the past 7 years. At 54 years old and because I am the father of 3 children, I need job security to secure my retirement. But my job offers me no perspective in terms of retirement. … Read more

Betty McGuire works at a high-rise office building in downtown Boston. Like many security officers working in the city, Betty protects a multi-million dollar building and its tenants while earning very little herself. She has been with the security company for 3 years. During that time she has received one raise, bringing her hourly wage … Read more

With a new contract that will take effect this week, 160 security officers who are employed by Summit Security to work at Columbia University will see their wages and health care coverage improve dramatically. Under the new four-year contract between Summit Security and SEIU Local 32BJ, wages will rise by as much as 45 percent … Read more

Minnesota security officer John Graham believes in mutual responsibility. Workers help the economy. The economy should help workers too. That’s not the way things are working out. “It’s the damn investment companies and banks that blew up the economy,” John says. “While they benefited before, during, and after the crisis, working people are hurting.” John, … Read more

To 57-year-old Chicago security officer Denise Dawson, being in SEIU means job security. “If you don’t have a union, you are what they call an ‘at will’ employee,” Denise says. “That means management can do whatever they want whenever they want. You can lose your job for any reason. A member of SEIU Local 1 … Read more

As a security officer working at Seattle’s regional transit authority–Sound Transit–Cheryl Nelson protects people and property every day. “I check 10 to 12 sites each day,” Cheryl says. “I go to parking lots, check for graffiti, make sure there’s no vandalism of cars, broken windows, break-ins, things like that. And I make sure that there … Read more

For some people, a labor union means conflict. Boston security officer Cecelia Johnson has seen otherwise. Since forming a union with her coworkers and SEIU Local 615, Cecelia has seen one major change at her workplace. “Everyone is happier,” Cecelia says. It wasn’t always that way, says Cecelia, an employee of Securitas at Blue Cross … Read more

After several months of organizing to demand livable wages, health insurance, training and better working conditions, 850 Securitas workers at Los Angeles County and other public facilities will be officially recognized as members of SEIU SOULA. “This is a good first step in raising the standards for these officers. The hard work begins now in … Read more

Historic national agreement includes wage increases and improved healthcare, paid sick days and holidays LOS ANGELES, CA–Security officers with SEIU who protect Kaiser Permanente hospitals nationwide voted overwhelmingly today to ratify their first-ever union contract. The three year contract with private security company Securitas–which is contracted by Kaiser to protect its facilities–includes family healthcare and … Read more

20090709email-security.jpgA new government report released yesterday has dropped a bombshell on the state of private security and its ability to protect our nation’s most important buildings. In a routine check on the state of private security for our nation’s federal buildings, investigators were able to sneak explosive materials inside – get this – a total … Read more

No doubt, you’ve likely heard about yesterday’s tragic shooting incident at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, where security officer Stephen T. Johns tragically lost his life. The event is a bitter reminder about the importance of these brave men and women who serve as the “first line of defense against a terrorist attack,” and the … Read more

For me and for so many of my co-workers, the main issue is our healthcare,” said Annie Davis, a 54-year-old New York security officer and SEIU Local 32BJ member during her day-long visit with New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg. “We don’t have sick days. We don’t get paid for holidays. It’s not even so much our wages, it’s the benefits…We … Read more

In a groundbreaking victory that will pave the way for similar gains by other workers in Minnesota, private security officers in Minneapolis and Saint Paul won access to affordable health insurance, higher wages, improved training and equipment, and sick leave in a tentative contract agreement reached late last night with their employers. “I have four … Read more