The New York Metropolis Council, in a marathon end-of-year assembly that lasted late into the night time on December 18, handed the Aland Etienne Security and Safety Act, phasing in new minimal pay and advantages requirements for this trade in New York Metropolis.
The laws, which nonetheless have to be signed into regulation by the mayor, was sponsored by Speaker Adrienne Adams and dozens of co-sponsors, and closely supported by 32BJ SEIU which represents 20,000 safety guards in New York Metropolis and held quite a few rallies to assist it passage.
It’s named for Aland Etienne, a safety officer and Brooklyn resident who died in a Midtown mass capturing at 345 Park Ave. in July. And it adopted a number of rallies in current days, with the phrase “Protect the protectors” as a type of rallying cry.
Etienne, 46, of Brooklyn, and off-duty NYPD officer Didarul Islam, 36, working a safety element, had been killed July 28 in a capturing at 345 Park Ave.
Wesley LePatner, 43, a senior managing director at Blackstone, and Julia Hyman, 27, an affiliate at Rudin Administration, which owns the constructing, additionally had been killed. The shooter then took his personal life.
32BJ SEIU President Manny PastreichPhoto courtesy of 32BJ SEIU
The laws was described as an effort to honor Etienne by enhancing working circumstances in his trade, acknowledge the worth of the job and deal with excessive turnover.
Earlier variations included new coaching necessities, however this model left current coaching necessities in place, whereas in search of to enhance base pay and advantages.
Present coaching requirements embrace eight hours earlier than beginning work and acquiring a license, 16 hours on-the-job coaching inside 90 days of employment, and eight hours of annual coaching. The laws seeks to enhance required pay, though some guards’ compensation already exceeds this, whereas addressing an rising turnover fee.
The Division of Shopper and Employee Safety could be tasked with imposing wage requirements, in addition to paid sick and trip depart and advantages as they’re phased in over three years.
“Security officers are integral to our city’s public safety infrastructure, safeguarding our offices, homes, public institutions, and so much more,” Speaker Adams mentioned. “Every day, security officers put their lives on the line, and yet they aren’t always compensated or treated like the essential workers they are.”
Rachelle Paoli, Aland Etienne’s partnerPhoto courtesy of 32BJ SEIU
Others who assist the laws touted a have to set a better base pay for staff on the entrance traces of security for New Yorkers.
“Despite putting their lives on the line to keep our city safe, security officers have been overlooked for too long,” 32BJ SEIU President Manny Pastreich mentioned. “This marks a historic win for thousands of working people.”
He mentioned it honors Etienne and people within the trade and improves compensation, a minimum of for these presently paid beneath this new customary for staff every day on “the frontlines of keeping our city safe.”
The laws, Patreich mentioned, will present these safety guards with a “living wage, access (to) affordable health care, and (let them) take time off to recuperate.”
Rachelle Etienne, Aland Etienne’s associate, mentioned he was “someone who protected and uplifted others” and “protected the public on the job.”
“As a father, partner, brother, son and mentor he did whatever he could to uplift not just his family and friends, but strangers and colleagues alike,” she mentioned. “I am grateful that today, we can honor his legacy by supporting his colleagues across the city.”
Raven Skinner, a safety guard who labored with Etienne, described him as inspirational and this laws as a solution to honor him and enhance the lives of these in his trade.
Raven Skinner, NYC Safety Officer.Picture courtesy of 32BJ SEIU
“He inspired me to be a better security officer and a better parent. Ultimately, Aland gave his life trying to protect the people he worked with,” Skinner mentioned. “By recognizing the thousands of security officers like him, we are honoring Aland’s memory and legacy.”
Whereas some safety guards’ fee already exceeds this quantity, a current impartial research discovered trade circumstances had been conducive to turnover.
A UC Berkeley Labor Heart research discovered that personal sector safety guards in New York Metropolis earn a median of $40,311and 37.8% lack medical insurance by way of their employer or a family member’s employer.
The research additionally discovered that the sector in New York Metropolis had a turnover fee of 77% in 2024 , above an already excessive fee of 69.3% earlier than the pandemic in 2019.
Greater than three-quarters of safety guards or 77.3% are males and 90.6% are staff of shade together with half who’re Black, in accordance with the research.
The laws phases in a brand new base wage, advantages, and paid time without work requirements for the 81,900 personal sector safety guards.
Picture courtesy of 32BJ SEIU
Clarissa Baynes, a safety guard in New York Metropolis, mentioned she has “had a few health problems pop up over the years” and that good well being protection might really defend safety guards.
“Each time, I’ve had to pay out of pocket for medical care,” she mentioned. “As I get older, that’s terrifying.”
Safety guards in New York Metropolis within the first yr after passage have to be paid a wage equal to or better than that of personal sector safety guards employed on metropolis contracts, presently set at $18.02-$21.201, relying on years of expertise and certifications.
They within the second yr could be entitled to a minimum of the identical time without work required for personal sector safety guards employed on metropolis contracts, together with holidays, trip, and sick depart.
Within the third yr, they have to be supplied with at least the advantages or money equal of these for personal sector safety officers employed on metropolis contracts, as advantages, money, or a mix.
