Newark on the Brink: Security Officers at City’s Most Iconic Buildings Prepare for Historic Strike Vote

Labor contract has expired for over 2,000 New Jersey security Officers

As strike preparations intensify, union leaders warn that failure to reach a fair agreement could leave some of the state’s most iconic buildings without the trained personnel who protect them daily.

Photos/video from September rally: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1Wzpj_kV6NFbjIsOkw9o_seRVe6qZD084?usp=sharing

Newark, NJ — Public safety at some of New Jersey’s most prominent institutions — including Prudential Tower, University Hospital, and Audible’s Newark headquarters, could be in jeopardy as more than 2,000 private security officers prepare to vote on whether to strike following the expiration of their contract on September 15, 2025.

The officers’ employers — including Allied Universal, the world’s largest private security contractor, and Securitas, another global giant, have failed to agree on meaningful training requirements and fair wage increases for officers.

The officers, represented by 32BJ SEIU, are the first line of defense at the state’s biggest hospitals, universities, data centers, and office towers. Yet, they say they’re forced to do this critical work for insufficient wages, and insufficient training, creating high turnover, lowering morale, and to the detriment of public safety.

“These men and women are the first people to respond during emergencies, from medical crises to active threats. But their employers treat them as disposable. That’s not just unjust — it’s dangerous,” said Ana Maria Hill, New Jersey State Director and Vice President of 32BJ SEIU

“Every Day Could Be the Day Something Goes Wrong,” said Lekeisha Gourdine, a 15-year Allied Universal employee who has spent six years at University Hospital. At University Hospital, Newark’s only public hospital and a Level 1 trauma center, 79 officers employed by Allied Universal face the possibility of violence every day — often without adequate training.

“I’ve been hit in the face by a patient, my supervisor was stabbed, and I’ve had to tackle someone in crisis to stop a violent outburst. We need more training,” said Gourdine.“Every day we deal with patients struggling with mental illness or people experiencing homelessness who come in just to find warmth or food. Some urinate or defecate right there in the waiting area, and when we have to ask them to leave, they sometimes lash out. We’re protecting others, but it feels like no one is protecting us. I love my job, but love doesn’t pay the rent or keeps me safe.”

At Prudential Tower, 96 Allied Universal officers are responsible for safeguarding the financial heart of Newark. While at Audible’s headquarters, Securitas officer Yaharia Vargas, a seven-year veteran, says officers are stretched thin and dangerously undertrained: “I love helping people in my building,” said Vargas. “But who’s helping us? My husband passed away six months ago, and I’m barely holding on. Securitas keeps canceling CPR and safety classes; I had to pay for my own training out of pocket. When someone fell down the stairs, I was the only one there to quickly respond. I’m protecting others, but I don’t feel protected at all.”

A Crisis Made by Corporate Giants

Despite guarding billion-dollar corporations and public institutions, the median wage for unionized New Jersey officers is only $18.62 an hour, barely enough to survive. Some officers report working 100 hours a week just to pay rent and keep food on the table.

“Allied Universal and Securitas are among the largest private employers in North America, but that’s not reflected in the wages they pay to the people keeping their clients safe,” said Hill. “When companies cut corners on safety and training, they put entire communities at risk.”

Public Officials Sound the Alarm

Elected officials across New Jersey are backing the officers’ demands, warning that failing to address these safety concerns endangers everyone who works, studies, or receives care in these facilities.

• U.S. Senator Cory Booker, Congressman Rob Menendez, in and numerous local and state leaders have signed the Security Officers’ Bill of Rights, calling for fair wages, benefits, and stronger safety standards.
• Hudson, Essex, and Jersey City governments have each passed resolutions supporting 32BJ SEIU’s campaign for “family-sustaining wages, comprehensive benefits, and safe, respectful workplaces.”

“Security officers are essential to our safety,” said Essex County Commissioner Brendan Gill. “They put themselves on the line every day. Supporting them is supporting public safety.”

“Our cities simply cannot function without them,” added Councilman James Solomon of Jersey City. “If they aren’t trained and supported, we’re all less safe.”

When Security Officers Win, Public Safety Wins

The officers’ campaign has become one of the largest private-sector labor fights in New Jersey this year, and one that underscores a fundamental truth: public safety begins with worker safety.

“This is not just about a paycheck,” said Hill. “It’s about whether the people standing between danger and the public can do their jobs safely and with dignity. If security officers aren’t protected, none of us are.”