News

The delegation of Swedish security officers and union representatives that visited the United States last week has returned to Sweden.

What did delegates learn about the working conditions faced by employees of Sweden-based multinational security firm Securitas in North America? And what did North American security officers learn about their Swedish employer?

In Chicago, delegates met with Securitas officers who told them that although Chicago officers will never be millionaires, they're able to make ends meet. Because they have a union, downtown Chicago officers have decent wages, paid vacation and holidays, and fully-paid family healthcare. They also have access to a union-sponsored training program for officers who want to improve their skills and keep Chicagoans safe.

In Cincinnati--where security officers do not have a union--Officer Melvin Tuggle told delegates about how hard it is to raise a family on his pay of $700 a month. After paying $475 in rent, Melvin must choose between spending the remainder on food, diapers, gasoline, or the electric bill.

Moved by what they heard, the delegates attempted to deliver a letter at Securitas' office urging the company to recognize the majority of Securitas officers in Cincinnati who have officially declared that they want to form a union. But despite the company's Code of Conduct and a global agreement--both of which promise that the company will respect the freedom of officers to form unions--Securitas management literally slammed the door in the delegates' faces.

In Indianapolis, delegates toured the city and saw first-hand that Indianapolis is desperate for good jobs with healthcare. They met with Officer Donna Grover, a five-year Securitas veteran who cannot afford to purchase the company's healthcare coverage. Donna suffered a major heart attack at work, underwent triple by-pass surgery, and ended up with a medical bill for $137,000.

Delegates learned that Securitas employees--despite poor treatment from the company--are proud of the work that they do. These dedicated officers want Securitas--the largest private security firm in North America--to continue to be competitive in the market. Indeed, their livelihoods depend on Securitas' success.

Commenting on her experience, delegate Susanne Berman, Employee Representative to the Securitas Board of Directors, said "I was shocked. This is not the way Securitas does business." She's right. Securitas in Sweden pays up to $21.19 an hour and officers enjoy rigorous training, quality healthcare, decent housing, educational opportunities and a dignified retirement.

It seems that Securitas, which employs 260,000 people in 40 countries, is a house divided--two different companies with two different business philosophies. One Securitas--the U.S. branch--slams the door on its workers who want to raise standards in the security industry while the other--the Swedish branch--welcomes them in and listens to their concerns.

How to reconcile these two Securitas? Perhaps it's impossible. As Abraham Lincoln said of the United States on the eve of America's Civil War, "A house divided against itself cannot stand...It will become all one thing, or all the other."

For the sake of our communities, let's hope that Securitas becomes "one thing"--a responsible security company that stands for safety, prosperity, and freedom.