Workers Demand Accountability Over $1M+ in Alleged Wage Violations by Newark Security Contractor

Workers accuse Pro Cops Security of law-breaking behavior including wage theft, union-busting and sexual harassment

Newark, NJ — Security officers working under contract with the City of Newark are owed more than $1.05 million in backpay for unpaid prevailing wages, lost vacation time, and holiday pay from January 2025 through March 2026, according to 32BJ SEIU.

The allegations center on Pro Cops Security, a private contractor employing approximately 130 armed security officers across city facilities, including City Hall and Municipal Court. Workers say the company has failed to meet legally required wage standards under Newark’s prevailing wage ordinance and that it has fired workers who have raised concerns about their working conditions.

“This is over a million dollars taken directly from the pockets of workers who protect Newark’s public buildings every day,” said Ana Maria Hill, Vice President and New Jersey State Director of 32BJ SEIU. “These are essential workers being denied the wages and benefits they are legally owed.”

Pattern of Misconduct and Worker Concerns

This alleged wage violation is not an isolated incident, but part of a broader pattern of worker mistreatment.

Pro Cops is under federal investigation by the National Labor Relations Board after it allegedly fired security officer Brian Tucker in January shortly after he sent a message to coworkers encouraging them to unionize. Workers have since expressed concern over whether they could face similar consequences for speaking out.

Tucker, a 17-year security veteran and father of five, described the toll of lost wages and job instability:

“I have to provide for my family. It’s stressful making sure my kids have what they need—food, school, everything. But I’m using that stress to keep fighting for what’s right.”

In addition, multiple complaints filed in 2025 allege that Pro Cops created a hostile work environment involving sexual harassment at worksites including the Essex County Division of Family Assistance & Benefits (DFAB) offices in Newark. Three former female employees allege that Pro Cops managers subjected them to repeated inappropriate sexual advances and later fired or suspended them after they raised objections. Pro Cops denies the allegations and the litigation is ongoing.

Pro Cops also came under fire in 2023 when it picked up a new contract with the Newark Housing Authority (NHA) and refused to offer jobs to a group of union security guards working at NHA sites. The displaced workers claimed this was a violation of the City of Newark’s Worker Retention Ordinance, which protects service workers against unnecessary layoffs when the city switches from one contractor to another. Several officers filed lawsuits against the company, and Pro Cops reached settlement agreements with seven of those workers. The financial terms of the settlements were not disclosed. Pro Cops denies wrongdoing in these cases.

With a pattern like this, workers and advocates are questioning why the company continues to hold public contracts in Newark.

Call for Accountability

Security officers and union members are calling on city officials to:

• Investigate and address alleged prevailing wage violations
• Ensure full repayment of owed wages and benefits
• Select responsible contractors that comply with labor laws
• Protect workers’ rights to organize without retaliation

Broader Goal: Raising Standards for Security Officers

Beyond recovering stolen wages, 32BJ says its broader goal is to raise standards for all security officers across Newark and New Jersey. 32BJ SEIU represents a total of 2,500 New Jersey security officers. The majority of those officers work in Newark, including at major public facilities such as Newark Penn Station and University Hospital. In 2025, union security officers across the state secured an $8,320 wage increase over four years through collective bargaining.