News & Updates
National Women’s Law Center, National Partnership for Women and Families, and SEIU Call on Nation’s Fourth-Largest Security Firm to Remedy Sexual Harassment
As the 57th annual gathering of the American Society for Industrial Security gets underway, two prominent women’s groups and the Service Employees…
Why Won’t American Security Respect It’s Officers and Begin Bargaining?
A clear majority of American officers in the Twin Cities suburbs have voted yes for SEIU Local 26 – and American Security…
U.S. Security Associates Subcontractor Work Rebid After Port of Houston Discovers Family Connection
Recently we’ve been covering U.S. Security Associates’ multiple problems with sexual harassment. As is so often the case, when you examine the…
Annual SEIU Member Picnic
Bring your families join SEIU members for our annual member picnic. It’s going to be on Saturday, September 10th from noon to…
Unsafe With USSA Newsletter: Issue 1
In August 2011, we published the first issue of Unsafe With U.S. Security Associates, a newsletter to inform security directors, property managers,…
Miami Security Officers Defend City’s Living Wage Ordinance, Strike Against Kent Security
Security officers in Miami say they’ve been underpaid for two years by Kent Security, and they’ve had enough. On Wednesday, dozens of…
Philadelphia Officers, Elected Officials Raise More Concerns about Sexual Harassment at U.S. Security Associates Inc.
Dozens of security officers who protect Philadelphia’s cultural institutions, businesses and public buildings rallied last week to urge U.S. Security Associates Inc….
Miami Officials Investigating Whether Kent Security Broke Living Wage Law
Officials in Miami, Florida say they are investigating Kent Security, a private security firm that has been paid more than $358,000 this…
Even After Paying $4 Million, USSA Still Showing “Cavalier Attitude” Toward Sexual Harassment in the Workplace
Despite paying more than $4 million in the past year for judgments and consent orders arising from sexual harassment and worker retaliation,…
Nationwide Action Calls Attention to U.S. Security Associates’ Record of Sexual Harassment
After hearing alarming evidence of sexual harassment at U.S. Security Associates (USSA), activists began a public education campaign to raise awareness about…
How Low Can U.S. Security Associates Go?
For U.S. Security Associates, the troubled national security firm, the bar just keeps getting lower. We’ve mentioned before how the company is…
DC Mayor Withdraws Support for Security Firm
In a victory for the Washington DC community, Mayor Vincent Gray recently withdrew the contract of security firm U.S. Security Associates, Inc….
Miami Security Officers Vote to Authorize Strike Over Unfair Wages
Security officers in Miami, Florida, have voted to authorize a lawful strike unless their employer, Kent Security, raises their wages to comply…
Safe and Secure: A Path Toward Safer Buildings and Stronger Communities for Indianapolis
The private security industry is large, fast-growing, and global. Unfortunately, it is also plagued by low wages, high turnover, poor training and…
USSA Failure is Not an Option for Washingtonians
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…
Should USSA/Watkins Be Protecting D.C. Schoolchildren?
Congratulations to Washington reporter Jeffrey Anderson for bringing to light the poor track record of U.S. Security Associates (USSA) and its subcontractor…
Miami Security Officers to Kent Security: Stop Cheating Workers and Taxpayers
A group of private security officers in Miami could receive more than $100,000 in unlawfully withheld pay after filing a complaint against…
Click Here to Fill Out Your Bargaining Survey
Now it’s time to start bargaining a contract so we can join with the 1000 Union Officers in Minneapolis and St Paul….
Pittsburgh Security Officers Seek Higher Training Standards
Security officers in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania have been working to raise standards and improve their jobs, highlighting the need for better training in…
Denver Security Officer Speaks Out For Better Jobs at Citywide Rally
In Denver, Colorado, labor unions, activists and community members came together this week to rally in support of workers’ rights and to…
How the Freedom to Form Unions is Transforming the Security Industry, Strengthening the Middle Class and Creating Good Jobs
There is a strong debate happening across the country these days about the role of unions in the economy. But as lawmakers…
Exposed to blood-borne pathogens! Investigate Universal Protection Service
Exposed to blood-borne pathogens! Investigate Universal Protection Service To: North County Transit District Board Launch an urgent investigation into reports that your…
Stephen Murray: “We need to educate people and let them know they have a voice.”
Stephen Murray is interested in making sure the economy works for hard-working people, and he’s starting where he lives and works in…
Joshua Rojas: “It’s a day-by-day existence and forming a union can change that.”
Joshua Rojas works the overnight shift at the Harris County Probation Office in Houston, Texas as a security officer. His role is…
Sharon Robertson: “We need to care for one another.”
Sharon Robertson is a full-time security officer at the Metro Rail Operation Center. Her job is to keep Houston safe. She has…
Janet Brown: “I’m organizing with my co-workers to bring respect and accountability to my job.”
As a security officer, I protect staff, patients and visitors at Temple University Hospital in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. For the past 8 years…
Mike Delgado: “They need to respect us, and they won’t unless we stand together.”
I’m a security officer at one of the most active sites for my company — Eastridge Mall, a mall that is located…
Kobra Oden: “We work hard keeping Philadelphia safe…”
I work as a security officer for a private security company protecting Temple University Hospital in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. My starting salary with…
Pittsburgh City Council Calls for Commission to Address Lack of Good Jobs and Inadequate Training in the City’s Security Industry
Members of the City Council in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, are calling for a new commission to address the need to improve the jobs…
Philadelphia Community Leaders Celebrate the Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Stand Up For Economic Justice in the Security Industry
At a rally held in Philadelphia on Martin Luther King Day, elected leaders and community members joined security officers to kick off…
Community Rallies for Better Jobs and Public Safety in Jersey City
“Security officers who protect employees at multibillion-dollar corporations should be able to afford to provide for their families,” said Bill O’Dea, Chairman…
When Basic Training Isn’t Enough
When considering three different security officers, one stationed at a federal government building, one at a chemical waste plant and another at…
Why It’s Important To Vote Yes for Our Union
Below is a letter from security officer John Vinje to suburban security officers in the Twin Cities area. To My Fellow Suburban…
Indianapolis Leaders Introduce “Safe And Secure” Bill to Improve Training for Security Officers, Make City Safer
As security officers across the country are calling for improved standards in the security industry, elected leaders in Indianapolis are proposing an…
City-County Council Minority Leader, Sheriff-Elect and Private Security Officer speak about the need to improve training standards in Indianapolis
Last Wednesday, December 8th, politicians, community leaders and private security officers took a stand for better security in Indianapolis. City-County Council Minority…
Emory Hall: “With a union you don’t fight alone.”
G4S Security officer Emory Hall has been a member of SEIU Local 26 since September 3, 2010, when Emory and his co-workers…
Veterans and Community Leaders Hold Press Conference About the Need for Good Jobs in Indianapolis’ Security Industry
In Indianapolis this week, local veterans were joined by faith and community leaders for a press conference about improving security jobs in…
Cincinnati Vet: “There’s nothing I care about more than my community and my fellow man.”
This week in Cincinnati, Ohio, veterans, armed service personnel and local community leaders held a press conference calling for improved jobs in…
Security Officers In Denver are Standing Up, Fighting Back, and Making Their Voices Heard
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…
An Overwhelming Response Against Irresponsible Security Contractors
Over the last few days, we’ve been asking you to take a stand against irresponsible security contractors. The response has been overwhelming….
U.S. Security Associates: Not Up to The Task?
When you see a security officer as you drop your child off at school, catch a flight at the airport or watch…
Harrison Bullard: “We won job protection, even when security companies change.”
“I’ve worked for non-union companies,” security officer and SEIU Local 26 member Harrison Bullard says, “and they were… okay. But there was…
Donna Alexander: “Belonging to a union will benefit you immensely.”
“We all do better when we work together as one voice,” says Securitas security officer at and SEIU Local 26 member Donna…
Roger Schutt: “We can organize for a better life.”
Talk to Roger Schutt for a few minutes about organizing security officers in the suburbs, and you gain an appreciation of why…
Security Officers from Around the Country Join SEIU Local 26 Members and Community Allies to Organize the Suburbs
Security officers from around the country are joining SEIU Local 26 members and community allies to organize suburban security officers in the…
Keep America Safe With Stronger Standards for Security Officers
There are over one million private security officers in America today–more than double the number of police officers. These private security officers…
Renita Whicker: “2000 officers will have a great impact.”
ABM security officer and SEIU Local 26 member Renita Whicker knows first-hand what a great union contract can do for officers who’ve…
Eric Meade: “I want security to be a proud and honored profession.”
“I’m voting for the union because I want security to be a proud and honored profession,” says Eric Meade, a security officer….
Downtown Ambassadors Win Union Via Majority Sign-up Election
Having just won a union through a majority-sign up election, 60 of Minneapolis’ Block by Block “Downtown Ambassadors” have become members of…
D.C. City Council Calls For Removal Of Contracted Security Company
The largest security company in Washington, D.C. is putting our nation’s capital at risk, according to a letter of concern signed by…