U.S. SENATOR SHERROD BROWN PRESSES BEDROCK DETROIT TO SUPPORT THE EFFORTS OF SECURAMERICA WORKERS TO UNIONIZE

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown is urging Bedrock Detroit LLC to support the efforts of SecurAmerica workers, who provide security services at Bedrock properties, to unionize. In a letter to Bedrock Detroit CEO Matthew P. Cullen, Brown called on the company to direct SecurAmerica to follow the standard set by industry leaders, and voluntarily recognize the workers’ desire to form a union through a fast and fair process that includes card check neutrality.

More than 1,000 security professionals in Cleveland and Detroit stand to benefit from joining the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), but SecurAmerica has taken significant steps to prevent its employees from gaining union representation. 

“Over 300 security officers in Columbus, Ohio, joined SEIU, and ratified their first contract in 2017, which included pay increases, paid vacations, and job security,” Brown wrote. “The SecurAmerica employees in Cleveland and Detroit deserve the same union representation and voice on the job. I urge you to express your support for their unionizing effort to SecurAmerica and its employees and ensure that your contractor does not stand in the way of these workers’ rights to form a union and collectively bargain.” 

Most of the professionals employed by SecurAmerica are workers of color who must maintain more than one job in order to provide for themselves and their families, and face a number of unique challenges in the workplace. Joining a union will allow these workers the protection and support of a union to advocate for safe working conditions, wages and benefits, and the job security they deserve. 

Brown has long been a supporter of workers’ rights to organize. In May, he joined House and Senate Democrats to introduce the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act – comprehensive legislation to strengthen protections for workers’ right to organize a union and bargain for higher wages, better benefits, and safer working conditions. As wage inequality continues to leave workers and middle-class families behind, this legislation would empower millions of Americans to stand together and ensure hardworking people are getting their fair share of economic growth. 

A copy of Brown’s letter to SecurAmerica can be found here and below:

Dear Mr. Cullen:

I write to urge you to support the efforts of security professionals in Cleveland and Detroit at Bedrock’s security contracting company, SecurAmerica, to unionize.  These security professionals – the majority of whom are workers of color and who must maintain more than one job in order to provide for themselves and their families – are integral to the success of your company.  We know that workers of color face a number of unique challenges in the workplace, and they should have the protection and support of a union to advocate for safe working conditions, wages and benefits, and the job security they deserve. 

More than 1,000 security professionals in Cleveland and Detroit stand to benefit from joining the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), but SecurAmerica has taken significant steps to prevent its employees from gaining union representation.  Bedrock chose SecurAmerica to provide security services at the buildings in your company’s real estate portfolio.  As a result, Bedrock is in a position to direct SecurAmerica to follow the standard set by industry leaders and voluntarily recognize the workers’ desire to form a union through a fast and fair process that includes card check neutrality.

Over 300 security officers in Columbus, Ohio, joined SEIU, and ratified their first contract in 2017, which included pay increases, paid vacations, and job security.  The SecurAmerica employees in Cleveland and Detroit deserve the same union representation and voice on the job.  I urge you to express your support for their unionizing effort to SecurAmerica and its employees and ensure that your contractor does not stand in the way of these workers’ rights to form a union and collectively bargain. 

Sincerely,   
Sherrod Brown
United States Senator