2008 Woodie Awards
Mac security guards opt out of their union's one-day strike
By: Amy Lieberman, Editor in Chief
Issue date: 2/29/08 Section: News
Hundreds of security guards in the Twin Cities went on strike Monday, creating what Javier Morillo-Alicea, president of the Service Employees International Union's Local 26 branch, called a "fantastic turnout."
But Macalester's seven security guards, all employees of American Security, steered clear of picket lines during the one-day strike.
"Oh, is there a strike?" asked security guard Jacque Ralston, who also serves as the Macalester chapter's union representative. "I saw the e-mails, but I didn't know if there was or not."
American Security is one of the three biggest security firms in the Twin Cities, along with Securitas and ADM security. These companies employ all of the guards that picketed on Monday.
Negotiators failed Saturday to agree on the terms of a new contract. Members of Local 26 voted on Feb. 9 to authorize a strike if negotiations failed.
Morillo-Alicea said that the security guards did not picket outside of the American Security building with which the Macalester security guards are affiliated.
"We struck three companies along point buildings," he said. "In St. Paul there was a total of 60 officers in downtown and in Minneapolis it was much bigger. By the afternoon there were a few hundred people marching through the downtown."
The contract between American Security and the union that represents the Macalester security guards expired on Dec. 31. Morillo-Alicea said that an increase in hourly wage and health care benefits are goals for the new contract, which has yet to be renewed.
"We definitely have a bargaining date scheduled next week," he said, "but I am hopeful we might get something before."
The strike was seen by some as an effort to gain publicity before the March 6 negotiations.
"We wanted to do a quick, dramatic hit, to show we are serious and we need to get the jobs done," Morillo-Alicea said.
Though Ralston is a member of Local 26 and pays its annual fees, he said that he and the other Macalester security officers remain largely out of the loop.
But Macalester's seven security guards, all employees of American Security, steered clear of picket lines during the one-day strike.
"Oh, is there a strike?" asked security guard Jacque Ralston, who also serves as the Macalester chapter's union representative. "I saw the e-mails, but I didn't know if there was or not."
American Security is one of the three biggest security firms in the Twin Cities, along with Securitas and ADM security. These companies employ all of the guards that picketed on Monday.
Negotiators failed Saturday to agree on the terms of a new contract. Members of Local 26 voted on Feb. 9 to authorize a strike if negotiations failed.
Morillo-Alicea said that the security guards did not picket outside of the American Security building with which the Macalester security guards are affiliated.
"We struck three companies along point buildings," he said. "In St. Paul there was a total of 60 officers in downtown and in Minneapolis it was much bigger. By the afternoon there were a few hundred people marching through the downtown."
The contract between American Security and the union that represents the Macalester security guards expired on Dec. 31. Morillo-Alicea said that an increase in hourly wage and health care benefits are goals for the new contract, which has yet to be renewed.
"We definitely have a bargaining date scheduled next week," he said, "but I am hopeful we might get something before."
The strike was seen by some as an effort to gain publicity before the March 6 negotiations.
"We wanted to do a quick, dramatic hit, to show we are serious and we need to get the jobs done," Morillo-Alicea said.
Though Ralston is a member of Local 26 and pays its annual fees, he said that he and the other Macalester security officers remain largely out of the loop.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
Josh Whitney-Wise
posted 2/29/08 @ 12:35 PM CST
I'd just like to note that the type of strike that the security gaurds are going on is an "unfair labor practices" strike and, contrary to what Robbie Seals is quoted as saying, they are protected by federal labor law from being replaced if they strike. (Continued…)
Hmm..
posted 3/03/08 @ 1:47 PM CST
Not knowing whether or not there is a strike going on is a lot different than "opting out" of it.
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