In a big shift, Amazon gives security contract to union firms

Security officers at Amazon have long protested their working conditions. Today they learned that is about to change.

They’re joining a union, and it’s all because of Amazon.

Just last week members of the Service Employees International Union stood outside the Amazon annual meeting, asking the company to dump its security contractor Security Industry Specialists (SIS).

Today that happened: Amazon ended its contract with SIS and hired two companies, Allied Universal Security Services and Securitas, which have unionized work forces, for all its U.S. security needs.

“It’s a huge step in the right direction for Amazon.” said Greg Ramirez, director of organizing at SEIU Local 6. “We’ve been fighting and organizing for the past six years.”

So have security guards: Over the years many have been vocal about their situation at SIS.

Amazon said its decision was not about union or non-union workplaces. Its choice, the company said, was based on quality of service. It added that the chosen security firms are able to scale up as the company requires.

Guards employed at SIS learned this morning they would be laid off. A layoff notice issued by the state put the number affected at 1,066.

However, in an email Amazon said they could expect to be rehired in most cases, and the SEIU confirmed that.

The change is expected in late July.

Ramirez said after that the union will work on untangling work arrangements at SIS. Many guards work variable hours part-time. The union’s first goal: create as many full-time jobs as it can.