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Security officers approve milestone union contract
By Barb Kucera, Workday editor
13 April 2008
MINNEAPOLIS - Twin Cities security officers approved a union contract including affordable health care coverage that they hope will set a new standard for other workers across Minnesota. Read more
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On March 27, 2008, nine Twin Cities security officers were arrested in what is believed to be the first time in U.S. history that private security officers have engaged in civil disobedience. View the video by Randy Croce of the Labor Education Service, of what took place at the IDS Center in downtown Minneapolis:
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Inside the lobby of U.S. Bancorp Center (above) on March 20, a group of 17 linked arms and sat down in an act of non-violent civil disobedience.
Photo by Steve Share, Minneapolis Labor Review |
Other Videos
Produced by Howard Kling, Labor Education Service
Rally to authorize a strike:
Security officer Howard Worley says, "I'm angry, but I'm proud":
SEIU Local 26 website
www.seiu26.org
.gif) Articles
Private security officers make historic gains in new union contract
April 10, 2008
MINNEAPOLIS - In a groundbreaking victory that will pave the way for similar gains by other workers in Minnesota, private security officers in Minneapolis and Saint Paul have won access to affordable health insurance, higher wages, improved training and equipment, and sick leave, their union announced.
Contract talks to resume for area security officers
April 8, 2008
Minneapolis - Twin Cities security firms have agreed to resume contract negotiations with the union representing 800 private security officers, the first such meeting since officers voted overwhelmingly to reject their employers' demand that they pay up to half of their income on family health coverage.
Two security officers suspended for engaging in civil disobedience
April 3, 2008
Minneapolis - Two security officers who engaged in civil disobedience last week have been suspended by security contractor Securitas, prompting the union representing the workers to file new unfair labor practice charges.
Security officers engage in historic act of civil disobedience
By Barb Kucera, Workday editor
March 27, 2008
MINNEAPOLIS - In what is believed to be the first act of civil disobedience in U.S. history by private security officers, nine Twin Cities security officers were arrested Thursday in a nonviolent protest at the IDS Center in downtown Minneapolis.
Images of historic protest
March 27, 2008
MINNEAPOLIS - Determination and hope were reflected in the faces of Twin Cities security officers as they engaged in a historic protest Thursday in downtown Minneapolis.
Community leaders continue to press for affordable health care
March 24, 2008
MINNEAPOLIS - Community leaders who engaged in civil disobedience last week to support Twin Cities security officers are urging security companies to fulfill their promise of affordable health care.
Security officer campaign escalates; 17 arrested in act of civil disobedience
By Steve Share, Labor Review editor
March 21, 2008
MINNEAPOLIS - Security officers and community allies filled the lobby of U.S. Bancorp Center in downtown Minneapolis late Thursday afternoon to support a fair contract and 17 were arrested in an act of civil disobedience.
Twin Cities security officers reject contract offer
March 19, 2008
MINNEAPOLIS - By an overwhelming vote, Twin Cities security officers have rejected a contract offer that fails to include affordable health care coverage, Service Employees International Union Local 26 announced Wednesday.
Security officers vote on contract offer
By Steve Share, Labor Review editor
March 18, 2008
MINNEAPOLIS - Private security officers, some in uniform, came to the United Labor Centre Tuesday to vote whether or not to accept a "final" contract offer from a group of five security companies.
Security officers to vote on final offer; union recommends rejection
March 14, 2008
MINNEAPOLIS - Failing to reach agreement on a contract for 800 Twin Cities security officers, SEIU Local 26 has scheduled a vote on the employers' final offer Tuesday – but is recommending members reject it.
Security officers, contractors resume talks
March 11, 2008
MINNEAPOLIS - After going to the brink of a major impasse, Twin Cities security contractors and the union representing 800 security officers agreed to return to the bargaining table on Thursday.
No progress in security officer talks; contractors make 'final offer'
March 7, 2008
MINNEAPOLIS - Negotiations between security companies and the union representing 800 Twin Cities security officers have broken down and management said it has made its final offer.
Twin Cities security officers stage first-ever strike
By Barb Kucera, Workday editor
Feb. 25, 2008
MINNEAPOLIS - Security officers employed by the three largest security contractors in the Twin Cities staged a one-day strike Monday – the first-ever walkout by these workers in history.
With strike imminent, security officers appeal to building owners
By Barb Kucera, Workday editor
Feb. 21, 2008
MINNEAPOLIS - Facing an imminent strike, security officers and supporters took their case directly to the owners of downtown buildings.
Twin Cities security officers vote overwhelmingly to authorize strike
By Barb Kucera, Workday editor
Feb. 9, 2008
MINNEAPOLIS - Security officers who protect the majority of commercial office buildings and other major properties in Minneapolis and Saint Paul voted Saturday to authorize their bargaining committee to call a strike if necessary.
'We are angry, yet we are proud'
By Howard Worley
Feb. 9, 2008
MINNEAPOLIS - Security officers face many of the same dangers, but get little of the respect shown to other first responders. Yet, increasingly, their work is critical to community safety.
In remarks made before the security officers' strike vote Saturday, Howard Worley, an employee of American Security, offered these thoughts.
Twin Cities security officers to take strike vote
Feb. 6, 2008
MINNEAPOLIS - Security officers represented by Service Employees International Union Local 26 will be joined by community supporters as they vote Saturday whether to walk off the job at commercial office buildings in the Twin Cities.
Vigil focuses on justice for security officers
Jan. 24, 2008
MINNEAPOLIS - A faith vigil in honor of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., at the Holiday Inn Metrodome brought attention to the plight of security officers at Hannon Security Services, who face racial discrimination and a lack of access to affordable health care.
Security officers to march on MLK Day
Jan. 20, 2008
MINNEAPOLIS - Security officers represented by Service Employees International Union Local 26 and supporters will march Monday in honor of Martin Luther King Day and to seek justice on the job.
Hannon workers 'on thin ice,' demonstrators say
By Steve Share
Jan. 14, 2008
EDINA - The windchill was minus six degrees at noon Monday as about 20 members and staff of SEIU Local 26, some wearing ice skates, some wearing boots, played hockey on the ice at Centennial Lakes Park. Their presence sought to dramatize that workers at Hannon Security Services are "on thin ice" without access to affordable health care.
Security officers hit hard by health care crisis
By Barb Kucera, Workday editor
Jan. 9, 2008
MINNEAPOLIS - On the heels of recent reports indicating more than 1 million Minnesotans are living without adequate insurance, a new study finds that private security officers in the Twin Cities are almost universally without affordable, employer-sponsored family health care.
Workers speak out about problems at Hannon Security
By Barb Kucera, Workday editor
Dec. 8, 2007
MINNEAPOLIS - As Congressman Keith Ellison and faith and community leaders listened, Hannon Security Services workers described an atmosphere of racial discrimination and mistreatment by the local security firm.
Union sets up memorial fund for window cleaner killed on the job
Dec. 7, 2007
MINNEAPOLIS - Service Employees International Union Local 26 has set up a memorial fund in remembrance of Fidel Sanchez-Flores, a window cleaner killed Wednesday in a fall at the IDS Center in downtown Minneapolis.
'Our health, our state, our time,' marchers say
By Barb Kucera, Workday editor
Dec. 5, 2007
MINNEAPOLIS - Chanting the slogan, "Our health, our state, our time," some 300 people rallied at Minneapolis City Hall Tuesday, then marched through the skyway system to call for affordable health care for all Minnesotans.
March to support building workers puts spotlight on health care
Nov. 29, 2007
MINNEAPOLIS - Unions, faith organizations and community groups are mobilizing for a massive march Tuesday to support affordable health insurance. The action comes just weeks before contracts for downtown security officers and window cleaners are set to expire.
SEIU Local 26 wins progressive leadership award
By Steve Share, Labor Review editor
Nov. 20, 2007
MINNEAPOLIS - SEIU Local 26, which launched a highly successful "Justice for Janitors" campaign, will be one of two organizations honored at the TakeAction Minnesota 2007 Progressive Leadership Awards dinner.
Security guards, window cleaners launch contract campaign
By Barb Kucera, Workday editor
Nov. 11, 2007
MINNEAPOLIS - Early this year the Justice for Janitors campaign helped thousands of Twin Cities workers attain family health coverage. Now security guards and window cleaners – who work in the same downtown buildings as the janitors – are mobilizing to improve their pay and benefits.
Twin Cities security firm faces discrimination charges
Oct. 15, 2007
MINNEAPOLIS - Twin Cities security firm Hannon Security Services, Inc., unlawfully exposed private security officers to race-based discrimination and hostile working conditions, according to charges filed by five workers.
Window cleaners seek union representation
June 19, 2007
MINNEAPOLIS - Workers who hang from skyscrapers, cleaning windows on some of the area's largest and tallest buildings, are seeking union representation.
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