Security Officers Celebrate Gains, Plan for Future

Security Officers Celebrate Gains, Plan for Future

May 16th 2009 – Hundreds of security officers and community members made history as they filled the union hall, marking the largest gathering of security officers ever in Massachusetts.  The Boston convention was part of a national movement.  Similar events were held in 15 cities around the country.

Security officers celebrated the tremendous strides they have made in organizing the industry.  Officers went from 0% organized in 2004 to 88% organized in the largest Boston and Cambridge office buildings and have also organized all 270 officers at Harvard University. 

However, officers also focused on the challenges ahead and all that still remains to be done.  In Massachusetts, about 1,500 officers are organized out of roughly 15,000.  Officers identified important issues including fair wages, affordable family health care, sick days, dignity and respect at work.

The convention closed with agreement to win the right to organize for 7,000 more security officers by 2011.  Local 615 Security Officers and other members marched with supporters from a variety of area labor and community groups through the streets of Back Bay demanding an economy that works for everyone and passage of the Employee Free Choice Act, a change in the law that would give more working people the right to organize and help to rebuild our deflated middle-class.