The “Fight for 15” movement is alive and well in the state of Illinois. SEIU Local 1 Metropolitan Chicago security officers, who secure high-profile sites like the University of Chicago, the Chicago Housing Authority, United Airlines in the Willis Tower, and Maggie Daley Park, were joined by Second District Congresswoman Robin Kelly (D-IL) to kick off their contract campaign to reduce violence and improve safety in the Chicagoland area. The sad truth is that median wage for a Metro security officer is $11.25 an hour, just over $23,000 annually. Officers earn as little as $9.40 an hour, or $19,000 annually. These low wages leave many Metro officers trapped in struggling neighborhoods.
President of SEIU Local 1, Tom Balanoff, says that a higher wage for security pays off in higher dividends to the community in the form of helping working families and keeping communities safer.
Congresswoman Kelly calls it “fighting the right kind of fight.” Her friend and House of Representatives colleagues, the legendary John Lewis, would call this fight “good trouble.” The contract will cover 6,000 Chicagoland security officers across Cook County, many of whom live in our area’s roughest neighborhoods. Congresswoman Kelly says, “That’s a fight for a better contract and for a fair wage for you to take care of your families.”
Kelly pointed out that many members of the union are the men and women who are living and heading households in the 2nd Illinois Congressional district, which she has represented since early 2013. Kelly called out the fact that one-fourth of Metro officers make $10.75 an hour or less. “That is just plain wrong; and we can, and must, do better,” said Kelly.
“This contract covers over 6,000 Chicagoland security officers, many of whom live in our area’s roughest neighborhoods. They’re on the front lines both at work and at home,” said SEIU Local 1 President Tom Balanoff. “They’re fighting to win $15 an hour that will help them raise their families and boost their communities. If we want to get serious about stopping violence in our city, we need to start investing in the neighborhoods and working people who need it most.”
“I’m here fighting for $15 because it’s time for a change,” said Local 1 Metro Security Officer Idris Amao. “More money in our pockets would give us more opportunities to give back to our neighborhoods.”
Chicago’s high firearm murder rate is directly related to its racialized income and wealth inequality, an issue that Kelly knows something about, having been one of the leading gun reform advocates in Congress today. “Gun violence can plague, which means we all need tighter security everywhere, every day. We need you all to have the best resources possible – financial and otherwise – to do what you do,” said Kelly.
Kelly has often said, “The best way to stop a bullet is with a job.” In these negotiations, the theme is the best way to stop a bullet is with a “good paying” job. Perhaps “Fight for 15.”
Improving service jobs, such as security jobs, is a direct route toward improving conditions in these neighborhoods and lowering our city’s homicide rate. As working people who live on the lower end of the economic spectrum, these officers oftentimes reside in some of Chicago’s roughest neighborhoods. The Metro security officers’ contract expires on December 1st.
Strong raises for these officers in a new contract would constitute an investment in underserved communities across the South and West sides.