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.
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.”
A recent report from the UC Berkeley Labor Center looked at the economic challenges faced by many security officers in NYC. It found that 77.3% of these officers are men, 90.6% are people of color, with Black workers constituting over half of the workforce. Almost 45% are foreign-born, and only about half have education beyond high school. Median income for these guards stands at just over $40,000 — less than 40% of the city’s median income — with many living below the poverty line and lacking employer-sponsored health insurance.
The proposed legislation would task the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection with setting standardized wages, benefits, and paid time off, phased in over the next four years.
“As a security officer, I’m often the first line of defense against violence,” explained Ibrahim Séne, an immigrant from Senegal who has worked as a security officer at several retail stores. “My job is about more than preventing theft — it’s about protecting lives. I’m fighting to build a stable life here, and the Aland Act would help me do that.”
Matilda Radinson, a security officer at One World Trade Center, said having affordable healthcare saved her life. “I underwent spinal surgery and cancer treatment — costs covered because of insurance. That’s why I support the Aland Act: ensuring security officers have healthcare and a living wage.”
“If someone comes into our store with the intent of breaking the law or becoming violent, I’m the first line of defense,” notes Ibrahim Séne, who has worked as a security officer at several retail stores. He explained at the hearing that his job is more than just preventing theft; he also safeguards employees and customers. “Every time I clock in at my job, I feel like I might be taking a risk in order to provide for my family. I am from Senegal, and I am fighting to achieve the American Dream. It gets difficult to do that with the cost of living always increasing. I work hard to contribute to this great city, and Aland’s Act would give me the support to continue building my life here.”
Matilda Radinson, a 32BJ SEIU member and security officer at the Oculus One World Trade Center, spoke about how having affordable healthcare saved her life: “I went through spinal surgery and cancer, and all of my treatments were covered. I never had to choose between paying rent and getting the life-saving treatment and care I needed. That’s why I’m fighting for the Aland Etienne Safety and Security Act: to ensure all security officers, the people like me who are risking their lives to protect New Yorkers, have health care coverage and a living wage.”
Manny Pastreich, president of 32BJ SEIU, said: “Security officers are on the frontlines of every imaginable emergency… While risking their lives, thousands of security officers are earning poverty wages with no access to health care or time off. The Aland Etienne Safety and Security Act is an investment in our frontline workers and in the safety of our city.”
Security guard training, the main pillar behind the Aland Etienne Safety and Security Act, is desperately needed, according to Travina Garrel, an adjunct professor of criminal and social justice at Monroe University. Garrel also works as a training instructor at the 32BJ Thomas Shortman Training Center and is a retired NYPD sergeant who oversaw the detective squad.
“As a former law enforcement officer, I can testify firsthand to the essential role that security officers play in New York City’s public safety. Despite their key role… security officers lack the training, pay, and benefits commensurate with their importance,” Garrel told the hearing, noting that building owners expect officers to not only secure properties but also mediate disputes and de-escalate dangerous situations.
She emphasized that this is why the city should supplement existing state training with standards designed for NYC’s unique challenges. She also drew a direct link between poverty wages and public safety: “I have literally taught officers who work all day patrolling a homeless shelter and then go to sleep at a homeless shelter. Low pay contributes to high turnover, and when turnover is high, the benefits of training are lost.”
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