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New York, NY—More than 160 security officers working at Columbia University will see their wages and health care coverage improve this week due to a new four-year contract between Summit Security and 32BJ – a union representing 10,000 private security officers.
“Today, the security officers protecting students, faculty, staff and campus buildings will see the first in a series of wage and benefit improvements in their paychecks,” said Kevin Doyle, 32BJ Executive Vice President. “Their new contract provides real raises and benefits, which will go a long way toward helping them make ends meet and better their lives.”
Under the new contract, which is retroactive to March 1, wages will rise by as much as 45% for many officers to $14.75 an hour over the next four years.
In the first year, officers will see their hourly wages increase to $12 per hour immediately, plus get fully employer paid single health coverage, state-of-the-art security training, paid holidays, vacation and sick days. In the second year of the contract, officers will also be eligible to receive legal assistance through legal services through 32BJ’s Legal Services Fund, retirement benefits and fully employer paid family health coverage.
The new contract not only provides a much needed “boost in my pay check, but it also provides a medical plan that my coworkers and I can afford to use,” said Dennis Viera, a Summit security officer protecting McBain and Ruggles Halls.
The contract, along with similar ones already in place with Fordham and the New School, advances the union’s campaign to raise standards across the industry.
“Columbia’s administration and student body should be commended for their respective roles in bringing about a win-win agreement for the entire Columbia community,” said Mike Fishman, 32BJ President. “Professionalizing the industry means better pay for officers, better protection for New York City businesses, campuses and stadiums and a safer, more secure New York.”
With more than 120,000 members in eight states, including 70,000 in New York, 32BJ SEIU is the largest property service workers union in the country.
updated 5/3/2010
