NYC security officers, unions call for standardized pay, benefits

Security officers and members of 32BJ SEIU, which represents more than 20,000 security workers in New York City, gathered at City Hall last week to testify in support of the Aland Etienne Safety and Security Act.

- By KAREN JUANITA CARRILLO Amsterdam News Staff

The legislation, introduced by City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams and Council Member Crystal Hudson in September, would set new security guard standards across the city.

Named in memory of Aland Etienne, one of four victims killed during the July mass shooting at 345 Park Avenue — the office building housing the NFL’s New York offices and major financial firms — the bill would increase protections for those working in the security industry. If passed, the law would require security guard employers to meet minimum pay levels, offer paid sick leave and vacation, provide comprehensive benefits, and mandate employee safety training.

Low pay and the lack of benefits make security guard work unsustainable, Clarissa Baynes, who works security at 1776 Broadway, said at the hearing. Most security officers have it rough because they have to work paycheck to paycheck. “I struggle to keep up with rent, and without good health insurance, I’ve had to pay for health care out of pocket,” she said. “As I get older, I’m terrified of getting sick and ending up with thousands of dollars of medical debt. Aland’s Act would change my life.”