Apple Store Guards Stage Sit-In Demanding Higher Wages

Silicon Valley's top tech firms are infamous for paying their help borderline-poverty wages, including private security. Today, some of Apple's retail and corporate guards protested their low pay at the company's flagship shop in San Francisco.


According to multiple protesters and reporters, tweeting under the hashtag #TechCanDoBetter, contractors organized by the SEIU labor union staged a sit-in at the Apple Store in downtown San Francisco. Holding signs reading "Invisible No More" and "Opportunity for All Our Communities," the protesters peacefully occupied the store for over an hour before a confrontation with police.



As it became clear Apple employees were going to "wait the protesters out," the contractors allegedly decided to block the doors to the store. Police officers then declared the demonstration illegal, and then arrested a dozen of the protesters.

Read more at http://valleywag.gawker.com/tech-security-contractors-arrested-after-demanding-high-1628155044

Google Shamed Into Paying Their Security Guards a Living Wage

Kevin Montgomery
http://valleywag.gawker.com/google-shamed-into-paying-their-security-guards-a-livin-1642110689/+laceydonohue

For years, companies like Google and Apple have outsourced their security operations, ensuring their campus guards take home low wages while programmers earn top dollar. But following worker protests and unfavorable media coverage, the search giant has announced it's dropping its security contractor and bringing the Googleplex guards in-house.

Google will be hiring 200 guards to protect its Northern California offices when its contract with Security Industry Specialists ends November 1st. The company says it will focus on employing those workers full-time, the Mountain View Voice reports.

"Building an in-house security team is something we are excited to do," said a Google spokesperson in a statement. "This is a process we started over a year ago and are looking forward to making these valued positions both full- and part-time Google employees. We value the work of the security professionals who keep our campuses safe and making sure they're well-taken care of is very important to us."

The Service Employees International Union, which has 40,000 security guard members nationwide, held a protest of SIS at Google headquarters in June of 2013. SEIU conducted a survey that found that 80 percent of Google's SIS security guards were only offered part-time work. One of them was Manny Cardenas, who told the Voice that despite his $16 an hour pay, he was sometimes scheduled only one day a week and took home only $1,000 a month in pay, with no health benefits for himself or his daughter.

Nycresistance Interview (made with Spreaker)on police brutaity

Security Guard Horror Stories: Missing Pay

The way security companies make money is literally off the backs of the people they hire to do security at there clients locations. For example they will charge the client 40 dollars an hour for each guard. Then turn around and pay that guard minimum wage to 10 dollars an hour. That guard is paid a crap wage to be treated like garbage and expected to deal with stresses that are just inhuman.

Did you know that security companies have another trick up there sleeve to be able to keep money away from security guards?

What they do is do not pay you all the hours you worked in hopes you do not notice the missing pay. This is why Security guard must record when they work and compare it to their pay stub every time and then file a grievance every time your check is short.

My latest horrifying experience goes back in time back in 2001 at my first ever security job. The company was called S&H security from Harlem. I worked only 2 days because I was in college. At the time I was paid minimum wage which was $6 an hour. I worked 24 hours a week.

Very often my check was short 6 hours. On top of that they would often pay me with a bounced check! every week a bounced check! They would tell us to go to a specific check cashier that would charge $20 bucks to cash checks. A lot of times I would have to go without pay for an entire week. I was still expected to be at work on time and do my job.

I would complain and the racism was fucking amazing to the point I could say it was amaze balls. I would tell them my check was short or that the check bounced and they would say why didn't you go to the check cashier I would tell them I cant afford the fee. Then they would ask, What do you need all that money Jose Cuervo? To be able to get to work and do things. Why don't you walk fat ass?

Did I mention this was a ghetto black owned business. Where ratchetness was the business model.

The major reason why I feel that Security companies do this purposely is that you never ever her them overpaying a guard. You would think that in the case averages that the amount of missing pay there would have to be a mistake in extra pay.

Always keep track of your time and do the math yourself, I use http://www.paycheckcity.com/calculator/salary/ to calculate how much my check is going to be. and I compare it to my pay.

Keep an eye on your site and company. Cover your ass!

No name Security Company Scams Brother and Sister out of Money

One of my viewers sent me this email about a common scam in the security industry. She answered this ad on Craigslist that said:

FRONT DESK SECURITY
 front desk duties, Answering phones, Signing in packages, Signing Guests IN/Out, Monitoring Surveillance Cameras
MORNING / OVERNIGHT Shifts open
Security training will be available upon acceptance, Mandatory !
NO HIGH SCHOOL/GED -OKNO EXPERIENCE -OKN
O GREEN CARD -OK
NO FELONIES ( will not be accepted !)Must be 18 years and over Male/Female.
pay is up to $16.72
Call for an INTERVIEW : 212 470 1862
reply by email: msrivera10222@gmail.com

She writes:

A few weeks ago my brother and I saw this ad on the internet, we really wanted a job, so we decided to give them a call. We called them the very same day, and spoke to a  Ms. Rivera. Ms. Rivera told us about the job, the work hours, and how they pay. Ms. Rivera even gave us the schedule of the shifts they had available. Ms. Rivera said that all we need to get started is only $80. Ms. Rivera said that if we have the $80 we can come in the next day. 
When we went there the following day and met with a man that works with  Ms. Rivera his name was Mr. Rosa. Mr. Rosa spoke to my brother and I, saying that because my brother didn't have a security license he would have to apply for one, take an 8 hours course, a16 hours course and a fire guard class. For this the cost would be $500. Mr. Rosa said because I already had a Security Guard license, and my 8 hours certificate. I just needed to do the 16 hours course, and the fire guard class that will cost me $300. We didn't have all the money so Mr. Rosa said we could pay part and then we could finish paying once we started working. 
Mr. Rosa told my brother that as soon as we pay down part of the money he could start his classes and it's only for three days, and he told me that because I got my licence I would start working by the Wednesday when I pay my part of the money. My brother and I borrowed $300 from our mother and went to pay Mr Rosa so that we could get started. We went and payed him and he told us that we should call him the next day so he could schedule my brother for classes and put me at a work site. The next day we called him and Mr. Rosa said that we should call back he is busy. I tried calling him on many occasions yet he didn't want to answer.

Let me break this down so you will recognize this.

1. What is the name and address of the business? where are they located? no where in the ad. Any reputable business will have this information.
2. Where is a website? In 2014 there should be a website?
3. Up front costs. Always ask what the upfront costs are for? Most Security Guard companies and schools do not charge an entrance fee.
4. If they are pressuring you leave. Never give your money to someone pushy there are legit schools out there.
5. Upselling. Making it seem you need to take extra classes that are not required by law to be able to charge more is shadey. 
6. Always google the phone number and check for reviews. No Reviews or Bad Reviews Never do business with them.

What you should be paying for security courses as posted by REMS security training school http://www.securitytraining.com/

8 hour security class - $45

16 hour Security class- $90 I have seen it lower for $70 else where.

For information about getting your fire guard license read my blog post here How do I get a Fireguard License in NYC

In closing if it doesnt feel right back out. Because as soon as you give up the money getting it back might be close to impossible.

Security Guard Horror Stories: Getting Stuck

In the next installment of my "security Guard Horror Stories" I bring you the example of getting stuck on site. Getting stuck on site means when it is time for you to go home and your relief doesn't show up. So you call your supervisor but either they do not answer or they give you a rude comment saying "Well we have no one to relieve you", so you end up doing a double. In this experience it was far worse.

I worked for a small security company called Sovereign Security. I was working for them for about a month at the time and the turn over at the site I was at was very frequent. At the time my shift was the 6pm till 2am shift. So on this particular night it was friday into saturday. It was already 1:53am I am looking at the clock wondering where is my relief. 2am comes and goes it is now 3am. I tried calling my supervisor but she was asleep for the night and not picking up the phone for nothing.

I realize I am now stuck and have to pull a double. which is the 2am till 10am shift. I do it at least it was a sit down post and it was dead. I could also go on the internet and watch movies so I was fine for now. 10am comes the staff has arrived for the day yet still no relief has showed up. I called my supervisor she picks up and tells me that two people decided to quit at the same time. My two reliefs. I was already fading fast. My eyes were really heavy.

At 11:30am my supervisor finally calls saying she herself will relive me at 2pm. 2pm!!!! At this point I have been on site for 17 1/2 hours straight. Now I have to wait till 2! that will make it 20 hours straight.

2 o'clock rolls around my supervisor hasnt shown up yet. she doesn't come until 3pm with some excuse about having to pick up her grand child from school or some bullshit. I have been there 21 hours straight! Mind you there was a zero tolerance policy for falling a sleep on post.

In security there is no respect for your health or time. You are expect to be a spartan able to endure superhuman stresses on your body. The kicker was I was only paid 9 dollars an hour! At the time I had 8 years experience. No respect.

Well stay tuned and subscribe for more Security Guard Horror Stories.

Security Guard Horror Stories: Refusing To Show I.D.

I have had many conflicts when dealing with the public in my job as a security guard. Since Security is viewed as a job for lazy people. Some people believe that we can be abused and just pushed aside.

In this one occasion I was posted in this small office building in the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan. This woman came in wanting to go upstairs to the Buddhist temple for the meditation. I told her that she would need to show identification and sign in the guest book before she would be granted access to the temple. She got irate immediately.

The argument went like this:

Her: This is ridiculous. I never had to do that before.

Me: That is why they are no longer here. I do not make the rules.

Her: Well I am already running late I do not have time for this.

Me: (suppressing my rage) I am sorry for the delay but I can not allow you access until you sign in.

Her: I don't have to show you anything.

Me: As a condition of entry you must show Id or you will have to leave.

Her: I am going upstairs.

Me: Then please show me Id and sign in the guest book.

Her: I do not have time for you.

She proceeded to walk past me and get on the elevator. I then put my foot to prevent the doors from closing and keeping the elevator from going up.

Her: Are you really going to keep me from going upstairs?

Me: Yes Please sign in and you will be allowed access ma'am.

Her: You are an @$$hole.

Me: Thank you for the compliment. I am sorry for the inconvenience.

Her: I will have you arrested for kidnapping.

Me: You can leave at anytime I am not keeping you from leaving. You are just not granted access into the building because you refuse to comply to the conditions of entering this building. In fact you are trespassing and I am doing my job preventing you from going up.

Her: I want to speaking to your *&()ing supervisor.

Me: Yes Ma'am please get out of the elevator and I will call him.

She gets out. Cursing me out. I called my supervisor and tell him the situation and put him on the phone with her.

Her: I don't want to show him my ID. He might be a criminal. (seriously holding my rage from this racist lovely lady) I come here all the time and I never had to sign in. He never showed me his id. (my id badge is on my shirt. I show it to her) No I do not want to see your id you @$$hole! I am already late and this fat %^&* is making me later. (seriously wanting to unleash on her but kept my composure)

At this point my Supervisor tells her she will not be allowed access until she shows id. That she is the making herself later and that she could be arrested if she tries to come onto the property unless she signs in. That we do this in case of an emergency to know who is in the building to coordinate efforts with emergency personnel.

She was like okay I will just show him my credit card it has my name on it. She takes out her debit card but since it doesn't have a photo I refuse it as proper identification. My supervisor backs me up. Impressed that after her verbal abuse I am firm and polite despite her talking to me like an animal. She takes out her state id and signs in after 15 minutes calls me an @$$hole one more time. I say thank you and please have a blessed day. She goes up annoyed but no further conflict.

My supervisor came to the site to commend me on keeping my cool and professionalism. Also to laugh when I showed her my Id when she asked for it immediately. And that is how I dealt with conflict. I stayed calm and firm and contacted a supervisor to back me up.