During three-year struggle officers who protect Kaiser Permanente facilities were fired, threatened and interrogated for union support

OAKLAND, CA - Security officers responsible for protecting patients and staff at Kaiser Permanente medical facilities nationwide won a major victory over an irresponsible security contractor after a three-year struggle where officers seeking to join SEIU faced threats, intimidation and termination for union support.

Kaiser Permanente replaced the irresponsible contractor, Inter-Con, with a new contractor called Securitas, a company that is union in many industries and client sectors throughout California.

"We are thrilled and relieved that Inter-Con's scare tactics that we've endured for over three years will finally come to an end, " said LaRhonda Lynch, a security officer at the Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles Medical Center. "Now we can decide for ourselves to join with SEIU so we can raise standards and improve security at our facilities."

Since November 2005, 1,500 Inter-Con security officers in California have been working to improve security and working conditions by forming a union with SEIU. They are the only workers at Kaiser--either direct employees or subcontracted--who do not have a union. The new contractor, Securitas, has committed to hire the security officers that currently protect Kaiser's facilities and has previously ensured that other officers in California had a fair process to form a union with SEIU.

Inter-Con officers work for poverty wages, many making as little as $10 per hour while at Kaiser. Most do not have paid sick days and many do not have any health insurance. By comparison, security officers employed directly by Kaiser have paid family healthcare, paid sick leave, and a pension.

Supported by SEIU Locals 24/7 and SOULA 2006, Inter-Con security officers went on strike last summer and have been working to convince Kaiser Permanente to switch to a responsible contractor. The new contract will cover 1,800 workers nationwide, 1,500 of whom protect Kaiser facilities in California.

"I'm a single mother, and the current insurance plan is too expensive for me to enroll my two kids," said Dale Brown, a security officer in Sacramento. Plus, without paid sick days I can't afford to get sick or to use my own insurance. If were to miss even one week I would be in danger of losing my apartment. I'm happy that we were able to convince Kaiser to do the right thing."

Over the last three years, over 7,000 security officers across California have joined SEIU and improved their working conditions, wages and health care coverage. In 2008, security officers with Local 24/7 in Oakland and SOULA Local 2006 in Los Angeles won first contracts that are among the best ever for security officers. Total compensation--wages and healthcare--increased by nearly forty percent.

"With our nation's economy in crisis, it's more important than ever that hardworking families have good-paying, stable jobs that provide the opportunity to move into the middle class," stated California Assembly Majority Leader Alberto Torrico. "Kaiser has done the right thing by replacing a contractor accused of violating the civil rights of workers. Now these workers will have the chance to earn a decent wage and have the health care that they need to support and care for their families."

SEIU Local 24/7 and SOULA 2006 are part of SEIU United Service Workers West, representing more than 40,000 janitors, security officers, airport service workers, and other property service workers across California. SEIU is the fastest growing labor union in the Americas with more than 2 million members.

"

###