Following nearly a year of negotiations, Fordham University security guards have secured a new contract with Summit Security Services, which includes higher wages, family health insurance, and other employee benefits.

The new contract is the result of aggressive student lobbying by Progressive Students for Justice's Lobby Solidarity Committee and Rev. Joseph M. McShane., S.J., President of the University.

The decision to allow other security companies the opportunity to place bids on the campus security contract came after six months of pressure from members of the Fordham University community and an outside union, Service Employees International Union Local 32BJ.

The last time the administration changed its security contract was almost 15 years ago, when Summit Security Services, the current contractor, replaced the previous service provider, Management Safeguard.
John Carroll, Director of Security, explained that 17 security service companies bid on the Fordham security contract after the bidding was opened again. The current provider, Summit Security, was one of them.

He then explained that after analyzing all 17 of the bids, only four of them were going to provide the guards with what they were asking for.
In the end, they selected the bid made by Summit Security.

"McShane made a commitment that every guard would be paid a living wage, and Summit provided everything that Fordham needed," Carroll said.

Carroll also explained that he met with PSJ a number of times to explain the process of selecting a bid and to justify their choice.

Stephanie Crane, FCRH '09 and a member of the PSJ Labor Solidarity Committee, expressed her approval of the new contract in an e-mail to those involved in the negotiations.

"The bargaining committee and all the guards who I've talked to in the past few hours are pleased with this settlement," Crane said. "It exceeded most people's expectations, especially in the current fragile financial state of the economy."
The new contract calls for wage increases that will be implemented over the next two years. Previously, most security guards made $11.30 per hour. As of Feb. 1, their wages increased to $13 per hour. On Jan. 1, 2010, wages will increase to $13.39 per hour, and, on Jan. 1, 2011, wages will increase to $14.00 per hour.

In addition to these increases, the guards will also be guaranteed family health insurance, fee legal services, uniforms, a 401K with employer contribution and improved vacation benefits.

Officers who already make more than $11.75 will get at least a $1.25 raise immediately, then a 3 percent raise next year, and a 4.5 percent raise in 2011, according to Crane's message.
Crane expressed gratitude to all those involved in the negotiations.

"Thank all of you for your hard work, the hours upon hours of meetings, continual support, contributions, and risk you may have taken in supporting the guards on our campus as they engaged in this struggled," Crane said. "We must continue to advocate for ethical contracting across the University and work, as a whole, to recognize, celebrate and include all those who are part of our community on so many levels."

Jeffrey Banton and David Beckford are members of Fordham Security and were on the bargaining committee that helped secure the new contract. They both expressed satisfaction with the results of the negotiations.

"We were anticipating it, and we think it's a good contract," Beckford said. "We are very grateful for the students, Fordham University and the Jesuits for their help, and we are very grateful to the community for their support as well."