by DC Jobs with Justice | Oct 20, 2012 | Building Benefits, Projects
Thursday afternoon, the Economic Policy Institute hosted a meeting on working conditions for service workers in their office building. Tenants who work in offices throughout the large H Street building met with downtown security officers, SEIU local 32BJ organizers and DC Jobs with Justice staff to discuss the officers’ campaign and how tenants can help. Tenants learned that many downtown security officers earn less than $10 an hour, get no paid sick days and have trouble affording healthcare. Officers also have very little control over their schedules – one officer told tenants how he was forced to work a 27-hour shift on Christmas Day! rnThis building is the latest to join Building Benefits, a network of tenants renting offices downtown. DC Jobs with Justice began organizing this project about a year ago. In more than two-dozen office buildings, tenants have taken action to support the janitors, security officers and parking attendants in their buildings. Working with DC JwJ, tenants have worn stickers, collected petitions supporting paid sick leave legislation, and written to their property managers to advocate for better working conditions in their buildings.rnrnTenants taking action is vital to ensuring that when security officers win a strong contract, property managers will continue to do business with security companies that have increased workers’ wages and benefits. Usually, property managers make building owners rich by forcing security companies to compete to provide the lowest cost for their services, which means the lowest wages for workers. Tenants can pressure their property managers to support the workers by committing to use their services even if wages and benefits improve to raise the quality...
by DC Jobs with Justice | Apr 17, 2008 | Building Benefits, Projects
After four years of struggling to organize and negotiate with their companies, the 1,500 security officers who are members of SEIU Local 32BJ in Washington, DC won their first union contract on April 10th. rnrnThe contract establishes a minimum starting salary of $12.40 an hour, with 50 cent raises for officers who were already making above that level. The companies will also pay for health insurance for all full-time workers. Part-time officers did not yet gain full health benefits, but they and their families will receive some employer-paid benefits, such as prescription drugs, dental care, vision care and life insurance.The contract also provides 8 paid holidays and 7 days personal days, as well as addressing important job quality and security issues. rnrnThe contract will cover officers working for Admiral Security, AlliedBarton, Guardsmark and Securitas at commerical office buildings in DC. Together these companies employ about three-quarters of the District’s office building security workforce.rnrnThe officers were supported in their long struggle by DC Jobs with Justice members and activists, and the Building Benefits Network. rnrnBuilding Benefits members invited workers to speak at brown bag lunches in their offices, signed petitions, sent letters to their office managers, and held sticker days to show appreciation for the officers in their buildings. rnrnYou can read more in...
by DC Jobs with Justice | Aug 8, 2007 | Building Benefits, Projects
rnrn» Download: Fact Sheet on Working Conditions and How Tenants Can Helprn rn rn rn rn rnReturn to Building Benefits page rn...
by DC Jobs with Justice | Jul 20, 2007 | Building Benefits, Projects
Today, the Washington Area Women’s Foundation posted an article by DC JwJ intern Sarah David Heydemann on downtown office tenants’ support for the campaign by DC security officers to improve pay, benefits and working conditions. As a member of the Building Benefits network, the Women’s Foundation has been involved in the officers’ campaign since May of this year, when they hosted a brown-bag lunch, giving officers a chance to speak to tenants about their jobs.rn rnThis week, the Women’s Foundation will again support the officers’ campaign by organizing a "sticker day," encouraging tenants throughout their building to wear stickers that express support for security officers’ campaign. rn rn rnCheck back later this week for a report on that event! rn...
