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Deal Hikes Pay for Security Guards
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| Louis Martinez, a security guard in Wells Fargo Tower on Bunker Hill, is one of the approximately 4,000 guards who will receive higher wages and benefits thanks to a new deal between property owners and union officials. Robert F. Maguire, whose Maguire Properties owns eight Downtown buildings, participated in negotiations. Photo by Gary Leonard. |
New Contract Could Mean Less Turnover, Better Protection For Downtown Office Workers
by Richard Guzmán
Standing next to union officials and Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa on the morning of the holiday for Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., private security officer Michael Johnson said he was on the way to realizing his own dream.
"Finally I can take care of my family like a man, and do for them how I've always dreamed, just to give them the opportunities that I never had," he said as his wife and five children looked on.
Johnson is not the only one who feels that way. After seven months of negotiations that culminated in a marathon 24-hour meeting, union officials representing thousands of private security guards in Los Angeles announced a tentative contract with several property management companies that provide security to most of the buildings in the city, including numerous Downtown high-rises.
The deal results in a 40% increase in salary and healthcare benefits over the next five years, said Faith Culbreath, president of the Service Employees International Union Local 2006 during the event at the corner of Crenshaw and Martin Luther King Jr. boulevards. The agreement was expected to be approved by SEIU members Saturday, Jan. 26 (Los Angeles Downtown News went to press before the vote by members).
The agreement, between the SEIU and security companies that service more than 80% of the commercial real estate in the county, covers 4,000 security officers in office buildings 75,000 square feet or larger.
For Downtown, the contract likely means less turnover and a more experienced workforce in the high-rises that hold tens of thousands of office workers.
"It has a real impact long term," said Robert F. Maguire, CEO of Maguire Properties, who took part in the negotiations. Maguire Properties owns eight Downtown Los Angeles high-rises, including the 72-story U.S. Bank Tower in the Financial District and the Wells Fargo and KPMG towers on Bunker Hill.
"These jobs are very important Downtown in terms of having good security. There's a lot at stake, especially Downtown," Maguire said. "It'll also give people hope. They can get paid decently, have good benefits. It's positive for the entire community."
More Than Money
At the Jan. 21 press conference, Villaraigosa praised the deal and said a more experienced workforce will better safeguard city buildings.
"This contract means that officers who protect the hallowed marble corridors of the most prosperous companies now will be able to protect their homes as well," said Villaraigosa. "It helps stop turnover to maintain a trained workforce to better protect our buildings."
The point was echoed by Martha Cox-Nitikman, senior director for public policy and education for the Building Owners and Managers Association. She said there are about 1,800 private security guards working in Downtown office buildings.
"By having better wages you'll have a more stable workforce," said Cox-Nitikman. "It also helps to maintain a sense of community in our buildings. You recognize the guards and they recognize you as well. You know them and you feel comfortable in that property."
Culbreath said the union wanted the guard's pay and benefits to be similar to that of janitors represented by the SEIU. Security guards currently earn an average of $8.50 per hour with no health insurance or benefits, and many have to work two or more jobs just to make ends meet, she said.
"Our workers were working on poverty wages," she said. "The average worker made between $16,000 and $20,000 a year."
With heightened terrorism concerns in office towers following the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City, the private security field is one of the 10 fastest growing industries in the country, according to the SEIU. The union estimates there are 1 million private security officers working in America, meaning there are about twice as many security officers as police officers.
The new contract is expected to bring an estimated $50 million more each year into South Los Angeles, where most security officers live, according to union reports.
For guards like Johnson, who earns $11 an hour and works a second job to support his family, the new deal means more than just a little more money.
"In the long run it's going to mean a lot more because I have a large family, and we'll have healthcare," he said. "This means everything to us."
Contact Richard Guzmán at richard@downtownnews.com.
page 3, 1/28/2008
© Los Angeles Downtown News. Reprinting items retrieved from the archives are for personal use only. They may not be reproduced or retransmitted without permission of the Los Angeles Downtown News. If you would like to re-distribute anything from the Los Angeles Downtown News Archives, please call our permissions department at (213) 481-1448.
"Finally I can take care of my family like a man, and do for them how I've always dreamed, just to give them the opportunities that I never had," he said as his wife and five children looked on.
Johnson is not the only one who feels that way. After seven months of negotiations that culminated in a marathon 24-hour meeting, union officials representing thousands of private security guards in Los Angeles announced a tentative contract with several property management companies that provide security to most of the buildings in the city, including numerous Downtown high-rises.
The deal results in a 40% increase in salary and healthcare benefits over the next five years, said Faith Culbreath, president of the Service Employees International Union Local 2006 during the event at the corner of Crenshaw and Martin Luther King Jr. boulevards. The agreement was expected to be approved by SEIU members Saturday, Jan. 26 (Los Angeles Downtown News went to press before the vote by members).
The agreement, between the SEIU and security companies that service more than 80% of the commercial real estate in the county, covers 4,000 security officers in office buildings 75,000 square feet or larger.
For Downtown, the contract likely means less turnover and a more experienced workforce in the high-rises that hold tens of thousands of office workers.
"It has a real impact long term," said Robert F. Maguire, CEO of Maguire Properties, who took part in the negotiations. Maguire Properties owns eight Downtown Los Angeles high-rises, including the 72-story U.S. Bank Tower in the Financial District and the Wells Fargo and KPMG towers on Bunker Hill.
"These jobs are very important Downtown in terms of having good security. There's a lot at stake, especially Downtown," Maguire said. "It'll also give people hope. They can get paid decently, have good benefits. It's positive for the entire community."
At the Jan. 21 press conference, Villaraigosa praised the deal and said a more experienced workforce will better safeguard city buildings.
"This contract means that officers who protect the hallowed marble corridors of the most prosperous companies now will be able to protect their homes as well," said Villaraigosa. "It helps stop turnover to maintain a trained workforce to better protect our buildings."
The point was echoed by Martha Cox-Nitikman, senior director for public policy and education for the Building Owners and Managers Association. She said there are about 1,800 private security guards working in Downtown office buildings.
"By having better wages you'll have a more stable workforce," said Cox-Nitikman. "It also helps to maintain a sense of community in our buildings. You recognize the guards and they recognize you as well. You know them and you feel comfortable in that property."
Culbreath said the union wanted the guard's pay and benefits to be similar to that of janitors represented by the SEIU. Security guards currently earn an average of $8.50 per hour with no health insurance or benefits, and many have to work two or more jobs just to make ends meet, she said.
"Our workers were working on poverty wages," she said. "The average worker made between $16,000 and $20,000 a year."
With heightened terrorism concerns in office towers following the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City, the private security field is one of the 10 fastest growing industries in the country, according to the SEIU. The union estimates there are 1 million private security officers working in America, meaning there are about twice as many security officers as police officers.
The new contract is expected to bring an estimated $50 million more each year into South Los Angeles, where most security officers live, according to union reports.
For guards like Johnson, who earns $11 an hour and works a second job to support his family, the new deal means more than just a little more money.
"In the long run it's going to mean a lot more because I have a large family, and we'll have healthcare," he said. "This means everything to us."
Contact Richard Guzmán at richard@downtownnews.com.
page 3, 1/28/2008
© Los Angeles Downtown News. Reprinting items retrieved from the archives are for personal use only. They may not be reproduced or retransmitted without permission of the Los Angeles Downtown News. If you would like to re-distribute anything from the Los Angeles Downtown News Archives, please call our permissions department at (213) 481-1448.
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