Contract talks to resume for area security officers

Talks were scheduled to resume Tuesday, Service Employees International Union Local 26 announced. The decision came on the heels of Twin Cities security officers\’ historic act of nonviolent civil disobedience protesting the lack of access to affordable health care for working families.

Meanwhile, security officers employed by some of the same security firms in other cities around the country arrived in the Twin Cities Monday to support area officers should a strike be necessary in their fight to win improvements in pay, health care and other benefits, and training standards.

"Security officers from the Twin Cities were there with us when we had to go on strike in San Francisco," said Jack Feuchtinger, a security officer in the Bay Area. "We work for some of the same companies, and we know that what happens here affects us too. That\’s why we\’re here to do whatever it takes to stand strong for affordable health care in Minnesota."

In addition to national support from other members of SEIU, member unions of Change to Win in Minnesota have also pledged their support for Twin Cities security officers should they be forced to call a second strike over unfair labor practices in the coming week.

On March 27, security officers took the unprecedented step of principled non-compliance with the law at the IDS Center to protest the lack of access to affordable health care. In February, security officers held a one-day strike—the first-ever of its kind in the area—to send a message to their employers that all families need to have access quality, affordable health care.

Twin Cities security officers have been negotiating over improvements in health care, pay, and training standards with security firms ABM, Allied Barton, American, Securitas and Viking for four months and have been working without a contract since Jan. 1.

For more information

Visit the Workday special section on the Stand for Security campaign.