Do you realize security officers make less than some workers at fast-food restaurants? Neither did I. Last Wednesday, I attended a press conference on Temple’s Campus where Temple security officers held a rally to inform the community of the meager wages and lack of benefits that security officers receive. There is such a deficit that during the height of Covid, and even today, these security officers do not have hazard pay. When someone is exposed to Covid at their place of employment, you expect they should receive compensation while they are at home in quarantine. Well, based on what was shared at this press conference, these security officers receive nothing.
Now, what was very interesting was that the rally was held at Temple the day before collective bargaining was scheduled to begin, with the actual company that employs Temple’s security. You see, it seems that Temple outsources employment for security officers. What often happens is some larger institutions “outsource” employment for employees in specialty areas to an agency other than the hiring institution. And, in these instances, the hiring agency “Temple” in this case, has a contract and pays the employment agency, who then takes their payment and pays the employees a rate that the agency determines for the position.
In most cases, the hiring agency can suggest that the employment agency adheres to specific guidelines during contract negotiations, but other than making those demands and requirements, the hiring agency is not involved in the employment process.
State Representative Malcolm Kenyatta attended the rally and stood with the union representatives demanding fair wages and hazard pay. He pledged to stand with the security officers throughout the process. After speaking with the participants, Malcolm Kenyatta and the Union representatives asked to be allowed to enter Temple’s administration building to speak with the university’s President or a representative. The participants in the rally waited patiently outside for a representative from Temple to come outside to speak with them, and after a while, three representatives were taken into the hallway and were informed that Temple’s contract is up for negotiation in October. So, while the union was scheduled for negotiations that Thursday, Temple would not be involved in any conversations for over a month. It seemed like the security officers were between a rock and hard place, particularly during Covid with numbers increasing daily. These people need some support and some benefits.
Can you imagine going to work every day in a hospital or a school setting where there is constant interaction with people you don’t know personally? You know you have limited to no benefits and that if you become ill you will have no way to take care of yourself or your family? We speak of “Essential Employees” yet ignore the sacrifices they have made and continue to make each day. There has to be a better way.
People who put themselves and their families at risk every day should receive a living wage, and they most certainly deserve some benefits, especially hazard pay. At a time when so many people are refusing to return to work, and even fast-food restaurants are stepping up and increasing hourly wages, it is time to really consider what the union representatives and the security officers are asking for and do right by them.
After all, after I stood there listening to the security officers speak of going to work throughout this pandemic, I believe their loyalty and dedication to Temple, its patients, and students deserve that much, if not more.
As this column was written we had no update of the status of the collective bargaining. Hopefully, something positive came out of those meetings, and the security officers who work for Temple and other agencies in Philadelphia were heard.
