(NEW YORK CITY) - 32BJ Service Employees International Union (SEIU) - the largest Union for Security Officers in the Nation and representing 20,000 in New York City, has announced an ambitious drive to organize 50,000 more Security Officers in the City while honoring 24 Union Members who were lost on 9/11 while working at the World Trade Center.

Before 9/11, 1,200 32BJ SEIU Members worked at the World Trade Center.

Non-Union Officers fighting for a Union and 32BJ SEIU Union Security Officers were joined by City Council Speaker Julie Menin and New York City DCWP Commissioner Samuel Levine.

The tragedy of 9/11 sparked 32BJ SEIU’s campaign to uplift and organize thousands of Security Officers across the City, a campaign that is now being taken to new heights.

Officers gathered outside the Seagram Building at 375 Park Avenue where Non-Union Security Company CPS refuses to remain neutral and respect Workers’ Rights to join a Union.

The event highlighted campaigns to Unionize Security Officers working at Duane Reade/Walgreens, Victoria’s Secret, The Guitar Center Company, Urban Outfitters, Food Bazaar, Whole Foods, Stop & Shop, Anthropologie, Bath & Body Works, and other locations serviced by Narrow Security, CPS Security and Elite Investigations.

32BJ SEIU President Manny Pastreich said: “In the days, months, and years following nine-eleven we came to understand the importance of Security Officers in keeping New Yorkers and our buildings’ safe. Over the past (25) years, New York City Security Officers, alongside (32BJ), have made great strides in the pursuit of dignity and respect. Twenty-thousand (32BJ) SEIU Security Officers in New York City have won employer-paid, high-quality health care, good wages, access to free Union classes, a 401k, the Union grievance process, among other Union benefits. We successfully pushed for legislation to uplift the entire industry. But there is more to be done. The industry is experiencing a turnover crisis. Too many have their lives repeatedly upended by unaccountable schedule changes and too many have no health care or retirement prospects. With the momentum of the Aland Etienne Safety and Security Act at our back - passed to honor our fallen (32BJ) Brother Aland Etienne, we are now organizing for real power and justice for (50,000) more Security Officers who today lack the protections and rights they deserve.”

New York City AFL-CIO Central Labor Council’s Editor’s Note: Read an Op-Ed by three of the 32BJ Members who worked at the World Trade Center in The New York Daily News.

32BJ SEIU-Provided Facebook Graphic.