The Challenges and Dangers Security Guards Face

More than 1.3 million people work as security guards in the United States, making the job one of the most commonly-held in the country and one that outnumbers police and sheriff’s patrol officers. Yet new research from the UC Berkeley Labor Center finds security guards tend to be underpaid, inadequately trained, and more likely to be hurt or injured on the job — factors that lead to a high turnover rate. A bill before the California legislature would raise pay and training standards; it has the backing of labor groups but the firms that employ many of the state’s security guards are opposed. We’ll explore the research and potential legislation, and answer your questions about working in security.

Guests:

• Enrique Lopezlira, director, Low-Wage Work program at the UC Berkeley Labor Center
• David Huerta, president, United Service Workers West (SEIU-USWW)
• Lola Smallwood-Cuevas, state senator, California State Senate – Democratic sponsor of a bill (passed in the Senate, working through the Assembly) that would increase pay and training for guards; district is made up of part of Los Angeles
• David Chandler, president, ALSAGA (California Association of Licensed Security Agencies, Guards, and Associates)