14,000 Security Workers Strike Across California

Fourteen thousand security officers represented by SEIU-United Service Workers West (SEIU-USWW) have begun striking across California, marking a significant labor action impacting numerous major technology companies and other employers. The strike commenced Friday at 4:30 a.m. local time in San Francisco and Los Angeles, as union members took to the streets to demand substantial wage increases and improved benefits. These security personnel are employed by third-party contractors, including Securitas and Allied Universal, and have been engaged in contract negotiations for months without reaching a new agreement.

The SEIU-USWW has emphasized the disparity between the hourly wages of security workers and the substantial financial resources of the tech giants they serve. The union reports that some security contractors have proposed a minimal raise of $0.65 per hour over the next two years. Allied Universal, identified as the world's largest security firm, reportedly offered a wage increase of only $0.25 per hour in 2027, with no further raises for the subsequent three years. SEIU-USWW president David Huerta characterized this proposal as "shameful, wrong, and deeply, deeply disrespectful."

While the security officers are not directly employed by the tech companies, they provide essential security services for prominent organizations such as OpenAI, Anthropic, Salesforce, Google, Amazon, Microsoft, Meta, Nvidia, Cisco, and Netflix. The union's campaign aims to highlight the critical role these workers play, particularly as companies increase their reliance on security personnel. The strike underscores the ongoing tension between labor demands for better compensation and benefits and the financial proposals put forth by major security contractors.

An Allied Universal spokesperson stated that the company has made "substantial progress in negotiations" and is committed to finding common ground. The spokesperson added that Allied Universal values the "ongoing dialogue" and has approached discussions with "flexibility and a willingness to work collaboratively toward solutions," aiming to reach a "fair and mutually beneficial agreement." Securitas had not immediately available for comment at the time of the report. The union's action represents a broad mobilization of security workers across the state, seeking to leverage collective bargaining power to achieve their contract goals.