BOSTON, MASS--Andrews International, one of the nation's largest security firms, is currently under investigation for wage theft in Massachusetts and is facing investigations by the National Labor Relations Board in Boston and New York for alleged unfair labor practices. In response to the company's apparent disregard for the law and for workers' rights Andrews security officers and their supporters are staging demonstrations in cities across the country including Boston, New York and Los Angeles.

Over the past five years, Andrews International has been sued nine times by workers complaining of wage theft. Four cases are still pending and Andrews International has more than $1.8 million in back wages and related costs to settle the others.

Andrews was cheating us out of our overtime pay by forging our time cards and I took them to court for it," said John Macias, a security officer at Sony Studios in Los Angeles. "I was harassed for speaking out--but we don't have to stand alone anymore. If we unite together we can stand up for our rights and make sure they follow the law." Andrews International security officers across the country are organizing to join the Service Employees International Union, the nation's largest union of security officers.

Below is a summary of some of the recent activity calling attention to Andrews International's troubling legal history and to security officers' campaign to win respect and full legal compliance on the job.

Boston. All 13 members of the Boston City Council signed a letter sent to clients of Andrews International, expressing their concern regarding the security firm's troubling legal track record and the alleged illegal firing of a security officer for participating in a union organizing campaign. This letter also expressed their concern about the company's failure to pay sick days or provide adequate health insurance for security officers.

Andrews security officers in Boston also received support from the Boston Urban Asthma Coalition (BUAC) who wrote a letter to Andrews International client Manulife Insurance in support of a worker who was taken off the work schedule when she missed her shift after being hospitalized for an asthma attack. The BUAC also requested a meeting with Manulife to discuss the issue, but Manulife, to date, has refused to meet.

Last week security officers held public leafleting events at a university and a healthcare facility where Andrews International is contracted by Walsh Brothers Construction to protect current construction projects.

New York City. In New York, security officers filed charges with the National Labor Relations Board to challenge provisions in their employee handbook, which allegedly interfere with their legally protected right to discuss and speak publicly about working conditions. In addition, the charge alleges the company acted illegally by prohibiting employees from making complaints to government agencies.

Additionally, groups of Andrews International security officers are visiting healthcare facilities, higher education sites, and pharmaceutical manufacturing plants this week where Andrews performs security services in New York. Workers are asking that clients of Andrews International play a leadership role by ensuring that their contractor respects the law and treats workers with respect.

Los Angeles. In Los Angeles, Andrews security officers and their supporters distributed leaflets last week at many high-profile sites currently serviced by Andrews, including the Hollywood and Highland shopping center, the Fox and Sony studio lots, as well as Bimbo Bakeries, the Glendale Galleria and the historic Los Angeles Farmer's Market.

In addition, today a new website dedicated to exposing the employment and business of Andrews International launched at www.InsecureWithAndrews.org.

BACKGROUND:

Andrews International calls themselves "the largest private, American-owned full-service security provider in the United States." The company is owned by The Audax Group, a Boston-based private equity firm.

Despite paying millions in settlements, penalties and fines over the past several years, Andrews International continues to face repeated complaints alleging some of the same illegal practices. The repeated nature of the complaints suggests that Andrews considers the complaints a cost of doing business rather than an indication that it must change its ways.

Andrews International is under investigation by the Massachusetts Attorney General for complaints by employees of being required to work more than 40 hours without any pay as a condition of participating in its application process.

Visit www.InsecureWithAndrews.org for more information.

Service Employees International Union (SEIU) is working to improve security industry standards. SEIU is the nation's largest security officer union representing 30,000 security officers nationwide. SEIU is North America's fastest growing union with 2.2 million members.

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