First-ever strike of private security officers in city's history

***** MEDIA ADVISORY FOR MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24 *****

Security officers from across California and the U.S. join clergy, congregations, students, community leaders in demonstrations to raise standards industry-wide

SAN FRANCISCO - Security officers that work for some of the nation's largest security companies including Securitas, ABM and Universal Protection Services are going on strike today to defend their rights - the first strike among private security officers in the history of San Francisco. The companies have been violating security officers' rights during an ongoing labor dispute over industry standards.

Private security officers that patrol and protect high-rise commercial office buildings are critical in maintaining the safety of tenants and the general public. While the multibillion dollar corporate real estate industry enjoys low vacancy rates, rising rental rates and record breaking profits, the private security officers experience low wages, no access to quality, affordable health care, no respect, inadequate training and lack of a professional career ladder.

SCHEDULE OF DAY 1 STRIKE EVENTS: Monday, September 24, 2007

7:00 AM:  Security Officers' Picket Lines Up 
One Front Street (plaza on Market between Front and First)

4:45 PM:  Elected Leaders to Join Picket Lines, March through Financial District
One Front Street (plaza on Market between Front and First)

www.StopTheDoubleStandards.org

On Sunday, September 23, security officers that protect high-rise office buildings across California and the country arrived in San Francisco to join Bay Area security officers in their efforts to raise standards throughout the industry. Security officers from Sacramento, Los Angeles, San Diego, Seattle, Washington, D.C., Boston, Minneapolis and New York are joining Bay Area clergy, congregations, community organizations and students in a week of action, dubbed "Stand for Security: the Uprising"in conjunction with the unfair labor practice strike.

SEIU is the nation's largest security officers' union representing more than 55,000 security officers nationwide including more than 10,000 security officers across California. More than 4,000 private security officers throughout San Francisco, Alameda and Contra Costa Counties have been working with an expired contract for nearly three months. The first-ever, city-wide master contract expired June 30, 2007.

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