Minneapolis, MN – Prompted by the continued failure of security contractors to address affordable health insurance, security officers held a strike for the first time ever in the Twin Cities today on the three largest security contractors in the area – Securitas, American, and ABM.
The one-day strike in protest of unfair labor practices committed by their employers featured numerous rallies with hundreds of striking workers, elected leaders, and community allies. Security officers plan to return to work on Tuesday in a show of good faith to their companies and clients, and remain ready as ever to sit down with the security contractors to reach resolution to the key issues at stake.
"Today's strike was exactly the strike we planned and exactly the strike we needed to send our message loud and clear," said Howard Worley, a security officer at Town Square in St. Paul. "We have limited our strike to one day because we recognize the responsibility we have to help keep our clients and cities safe, but this will get bigger if security contractors continue to ignore our call for affordable health care and better training."
"It's time for the business community to make clear whether they support affordable health care for those who keep their buildings safe," added Renita Whicker, a security officer at Lasalle Plaza in Minneapolis. "We cannot afford to wait any longer."
The security companies have offered no significant movement towards a solution to the crisis facing the 98% of private security officers in the Twin Cities who cannot afford the family health insurance offered by their employer, which can cost as much as $836 per month. The last offer made by the security companies would still pay as little as 21% of family health insurance premiums and 57% of single coverage premiums, far below the Minnesota averages of 67% for family and 83% for single.
"Working families across Minnesota are being left behind when it comes to affordable health insurance," said Rev. Bruce Arnevik, pastor at Holy Trinity Lutheran in Minneapolis. "Security officers are taking a stand for every family that has to make the impossible decision between rent and health care," continued Arnevik.
Teamsters Local 120 and the affiliate unions of the Minneapolis Central Labor Union Council honored security officers’ picket lines during today’s strike, which were joined by hundreds of community, faith, labor, and elected allies.
Hundreds of security officers voted on February 9 to authorize their bargaining committee to call a strike over unfair labor practices. The officers, who have been bargaining for a new contract for several months, have been working without a contract since January 1. The contractors have met for just eight bargaining dates in the nearly three months since negotiations began, have cancelled a bargaining date, and have silenced officers for bringing forth concerns about public safety in their buildings.
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