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, with the union extending special thanks to members of Interfaith Worker Justice of Greater Washington, the DC Workers’ Rights Board, and the Building Benefits Network. rnrnMembers of IWJ and the WRB participated in delegations to employers, visited workplaces, collected letters, and brought officers to speak at their congregations. rnrnBuilding Benefits network 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 the Washington Post article or at SEIU Local 32BJ’s website. rn
