New York, NY – Negotiations will begin today for a new union contract covering over 12,000 security officers in New York City who guard commercial office buildings, higher education facilities, residential buildings, museums, libraries and stadiums. Security officers represented by 32BJ work in some of the city’s most iconic buildings including the statue of liberty, The 9/11 Memorial, LaGuardia Airport, The World Trade Center, Rockefeller Center, The MetLife Building and more.
The 32BJ bargaining committee, made up of union representatives and security officers from around the city, will present proposals focused on a $15 minimum wage in the industry, maintaining quality health benefits and increasing access to job training.
“New York takes safety very seriously and we must ensure that the hard-working people who make that safety possible have the opportunity to earn a living wage with affordable health care and paid time off,” said Denis Johnston, 32BJ Vice President and Security Division Director. “We must ensure that these hard-working men and women have the pay and benefits they need to live in one of the most expensive cities in the country, take care of their families and protect us all.”
Under the contract expiring at midnight on April 31st, 32BJ security officers in New York earn wages ranging from $13.35 per hour to $26 an hour for security officers in federal buildings. While the majority of security officers have basic health and paid leave benefits, it is not standardized across the industry in NY.
“32BJ Security officers are always there for the public,” said Derrick Dicks, a security officer at 1 World Trade Center. “As we go into bargaining, we hope to win a contract that will help us support our families and communities as well.”
32BJ also represents 25,000 security officers up and down the east coast and will also be bargaining contacts for officers in Washington D.C and Connecticut this year as well.
“32BJ security officers are stronger and more united than we have ever been before,” said Jermiel Mitchell a security officer at the New York Public Library. “We know that we need to stand together in solidarity to win the contract we deserve.”
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With more than 145,000 members in nine states, 32BJ SEIU is the largest property service workers union in the country.