Minneapolis - Citing a failure by security contractors to address their key issues, Twin Cities Security Officers have intensified their call for their employers to settle a new contract with affordable family health insurance and better training standards on Saturday, February 23, when negotiations are scheduled to resume. Friday's negotiations between officers and six area security firms did not result in a settlement.

"Our employers still have not addressed affordable healthcare, and we cannot wait any longer," said Billie Edmonds, a security officer at Ameriprise Financial Center and a member of the SEIU Local 26 bargaining
team. "Every extra day without a contract is another day that I go further into debt if I have to take my son to the doctor, and nobody should have to face that."

Next Saturday's bargaining session will be just the third time the two sides meet this month. "We have been ready and willing to meet for months, and we remain committed to bargaining a new contract that addresses our commitment to affordable healthcare and better training standards for public safety," added Javier Morillo, President of SEIU Local 26. "The security companies have not taken this seriously since the beginning, and it's time for them to stop stalling."

Last Saturday, February 9th, Twin Cities Security Officers voted overwhelmingly to authorize their bargaining committee to call a strike at any time over unfair labor practices, if necessary. Twin Cities security officers have been bargaining for months with their employers - security contractors ABM, Allied-Barton, American, Securitas, Viking, and Whelan - and they have been working without a contract since January 1.