Private security officers in St. Paul and Minneapolis ratified their first union contract Saturday ? a ground-breaking step toward improving and standardizing wages, benefits and training across the Twin Cities.

The contract between Service Employees International Union Local 26 and four of the area's largest security companies covers about 700 officers in St. Paul and Minneapolis proper, or about 90 percent of the total private security force.

The contract's jurisdiction will expand into the suburbs gradually. By 2007, it could cover as many as 1,400 officers; provisions kick in once Local 26 signs up at least 70 percent of the officers working in each of six geographic sectors.

The four companies that are part of the contract ? Securitas, American Security, Viking Security and American Commercial Security Systems ? already accept union representation after a majority of their officers sign authorization cards at buildings they serve.

In addition, Local 26 continues organizing workers at nonunion companies, including Hannon, Allied Barton, Vance and Wackenhut, said Dan Klingensmith, president of Local 26, who plans to retire now that the agreement is wrapped up.

The 70 percent threshold for activating contract provisions in suburban areas helps protect union companies from having their accounts undercut by nonunion competitors, he said. The contract primarily covers guards at office centers, public buildings, arenas, and some industrial and warehouse sites.

Dennis Tubbs, of St. Paul, studies details of the new Local 26 contract while Terry Dyer, of Stillwater, talks with another member during Saturday's ratification meeting. Both men work for American Security. Union Advocate photo

Standardizing wages, working conditions
The three-year contract creates a standard package of wages, benefits and working conditions across the area, while guaranteeing that any officer who now has a better deal doesn't lose it, Klingensmith said.

"We're trying to raise standards for the majority," he said, "but companies are all over the map on wages and benefits, so it's a little bit of a transition."

There literally are hundreds of pay and benefit arrangements for security officers across the Twin Cities, he said. Wages, for instance, now range from about $8.50 to more than $20 an hour. Even within Securitas, he said, there are different compensation systems left over from the company's acquisition of Burns, Pinkerton and Simms.

The Local 26 contract establishes a base salary of $10 an hour effective June 1, and guarantees a pay raise of at least 35 cents an hour on June 1, Jan. 1, 2006, and Jan. 1, 2007. It is the first time officers will receive scheduled pay raises, rather than relying on the whims of their supervisors, Klingensmith said.

Also for the first time, the security companies are required to provide health insurance for full-time officers, to contribute at least $125 a month toward premiums, and to provide life insurance and limited disability leave.

The contract establishes grievance procedures; standardizes holiday pay, vacation pay, seniority provisions, and funeral and bereavement leave; and ensures that the companies, not the officers, pay for uniforms, training, drug screening and background checks. It also protects officers' seniority rights if one union company replaces another in providing security at the same location.

Fred Anthony II studies details of the new Local 26 contract while Del Foley listens to an explanation of the new contract during the March 19 ratification meeting. Both men live in St. Paul and work for American Security. Union Advocate photo

A nationwide first
The Twin Cities are the first place in the nation that SEIU has been able to organize security officers from scratch and gain a multi-employer contract, Klingensmith said. Local 26 began organizing among security officers in 2001, part of a nationwide campaign by SEIU to gain union representation for officers entirely through partnerships with major security companies.

Studies have called the traditional "rent-a-cop" nature of the industry ? with fast-food level starting wages and inconsistent training ? the weak link in the nation's homeland security. In Minnesota, SEIU, the security companies, public safety officers, elected officials and building owners continue to cooperate in developing "The Minnesota Private Security Partnership," intended to devise standards for training and response tactics.

Michael Kuchta edits the Union Advocate newspaper, the official publication of the St. Paul Trades & Labor Assembly, AFL-CIO. E-mail him at advocate@mtn.org