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BY Kyle Bragg
Published: February 28, 2008
This month we honor African-Americans, who despite numerous obstacles, have contributed greatly to moving our country forward. What is the best way to honor those who taught us the meaning of sacrifice, perseverance, hard work, dedication and hope?
Are we carrying out the vision of Sojourner Truth for a fair and equitable society? Are we learning from the insight of Frederick Douglass? Are we living up to Dr. King’s dream of treating all people with justice and dignity? In the broadest sense, yes, we’ve certainly made great progress in the past few decades. But in other ways, we still have a long way to go in making sure all members of our society are treated with social and economic justice. One way to pay tribute to the legacy of these men and women is to carry on their work.
Four decades ago, Dr. King stood up for striking sanitation workers in Memphis. At the start of their strike, their wages averaged $1.70 per hour. They were demanding $2.35, plus dignity and respect on the job. $1.70 in 1968 has the same buying power as $10.27 in 2007 dollars.
Today, in New York City – one of the wealthiest cities in one of the richest nations in the world – more than 60,000 men and women, most of whom are African-American, work as private security officers. Although they keep our city safe, many of them earn less than $10 per hour, receive no affordable health care and little, if any, state-of-the-art security training.
By and large, security officers are not able to make ends meet in New York – it is increasingly expensive for working families to live here, but especially for low wage workers. Low wages prevent workers from giving back to local businesses and force them to work multiple jobs to pay the bills. Officers have less time to spend with their families and in their communities. With no health care coverage, or premiums out of reach, they and their children go uninsured or use public services. Further, low wage, no benefit jobs fuel high turnover rates – in some cases as high as 300 percent. Such constant turnover means officers are often under-trained and unfamiliar with the area they are responsible for protecting. As a result, New York’s buildings and tenants are not as safe and secure as they should be.
Meanwhile, security contractors have profited off the increased demand for services since 9/11, and building owners continue to reap record profits off a vibrant real estate market.
We are failing as a society if we don’t provide men and women the basic means to get ahead – education and training, jobs that come with good wages and the promise of a better future. Too many working people are so caught in a cycle of struggling to get by that they forget their dreams and lose sight of their hopes. New York City’s security officers are prime examples of the workers for whom Dr. King’s dream is still out of reach.
As we continue to learn from some of the greatest innovators, activists, intellectuals and community leaders in history, the best way we can honor and remember their legacy is to continue their work for equal and fair treatment, and support the fight for decent wages, benefits and improved training for all workers, including security officers. Advancing their cause is one way we can truly celebrate Black History Month.
By Kyle Bragg
Letter to the Editor
Published: August 6, 2007
The rezoning of Jamaica for redevelopment ("Neighborhood Journal," July 30), which is part of Mayor Michael Bloomberg's PlaNYC 2030 agenda, has the potential to infuse hundreds of new jobs into this community.
What is not clear is whether the jobs created will pay decent wages.
Economic development in Jamaica must go hand-in-hand with policies designed to create good jobs that pay workers good wages.
In fact, it should be unacceptable for any development plan to not address this issue.
The mayor and the City Council have an opportunity to create a policy that would require developers to raise the wage standards for service workers.
To that end, we urge the City Council to vote "no" on Jamaica's rezoning if the plan for it does not include provisions for prevailing wage standards.
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By Kyle Bragg
Letter to the Editor
Published: June 20, 2007
Ken Thorbourne's article "Cops' security guards getting new system," spotlighted Jersey City police officers doing off-duty security work. However, it misses the larger issue on overall security and how the new law will adversely affect the state's thousands of security officers who protect potential terrorist targets such as Newark International Airport. The state's new Security Officer Registration Act - while its intentions are good -will force underpaid security officers to pay hundreds of dollars in registration and training fees without any help from the well-paid private security firms they work for. Since 9/11, officers have seen their responsibilities grow, but not their wages. Something is wrong with the private security industry, and the building owners who still rely on these irresponsible contractors, when officers are barely making enough to get by.
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