Hundreds of security officers gathered at Newark’s Military Park and marched through the downtown area to demand better wages, improved benefits, and safer workplaces. The demonstration was organized by Local 32BJ of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) and came as more than 2,000 private security officers in New Jersey face the expiration of their current four-year contract on September 15, 2025. The existing agreement set a starting wage of $17 an hour and provided employer-funded health insurance.
At the center of the event was the call for a “Security Bill of Rights.” The proposal includes four provisions: wages that can support families, quality benefits, workplaces free from harassment and favoritism, and adequate hours, training, and resources to perform security duties effectively.
- Over 2,000 New Jersey security officers are fighting for better wages, benefits, and safer workplaces as their contract ends September 15, 2025.
- The Newark rally honored Officer Aland Etienne, killed in the July 28 Manhattan shooting, showing the risks of security work.
- State and local leaders, including Lieutenant Governor nominee Dale Caldwell, backed the call for a Security Bill of Rights.
Public Support for Security Officers
The rally drew the backing of state and local leaders. Among those present were Democratic nominee for Lieutenant Governor Dale Caldwell, State Senator Angela McKnight, Assemblywoman Cleopatra Tucker, Newark Council President Lawrence Crump, Jersey City Councilmember James Solomon, Essex County Commissioner Wayne Richardson, and Jersey City Ward D Council Candidate Veronica Akaezuwa. Labor and community organizations such as SEIU 1199, the Working Families Party, and CWA 1037 also took part.
Ana Maria Hill, Vice President of 32BJ SEIU and New Jersey Area Director, said that private security officers are often the first responders during emergencies ranging from fires and medical crises to violent incidents and public disorder. She said the Security Bill of Rights is necessary to ensure wages, benefits, and working conditions reflect the responsibilities of the job.
Struggles Shared by Officers
Many officers at the march described the financial and personal challenges of their work. Michael Olugade, employed in the pharmaceutical sector, explained that his monthly rent of $3,000 for a two-bedroom apartment has forced him to take on three jobs, adding up to 100 hours each week. Rising grocery costs, he said, leave nothing beyond food for his children.
Hospital security officer Celeste Fernandez said she lived in a shelter for a year after losing her apartment. She noted that other officers also face unstable housing while raising families. She explained that hospital security staff carry a heavy responsibility, often being called when patients or medical workers are threatened or attacked.
Annette Williams, a 55-year-old officer from Irvington, earns the union minimum of $17 an hour while caring for her 79-year-old mother. She said her wages, combined with her mother’s Social Security, are not enough to cover their living expenses, leaving her with difficult sacrifices.
Remembering a Colleague Lost to Violence
The rally also served to honor 32BJ member Aland Etienne, a New Jersey officer who was killed on July 28 in a Midtown Manhattan shooting that left four people dead.
Tyrone Johnson, a 67-year-old guard from Woodbridge who works at a technology services building in Totowa, said the death of Etienne demonstrated the risks faced in the profession. Johnson, who earns $43,000 a year and is a father of three and grandfather of seven, said that security work carries dangers that are often overlooked.
Union officials noted that the security industry in New Jersey has a turnover rate of 57 percent, driven by low pay, unsafe conditions, and a lack of stability. They said better wages and protections are necessary for both the workers and the public they protect.
Negotiations and Political Backing
The event took place at the same time as negotiations between 32BJ and a coalition of ten major security contractors. Union representatives did not name the companies due to the sensitivity of bargaining, and some contractors did not respond to requests for comment.
Political leaders also addressed the rally. Dale Caldwell, president of Centenary College in Hackettstown and the Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor, said fair wages are a key part of making New Jersey affordable. Earlier that same day, Caldwell and gubernatorial candidate U.S. Representative Mikie Sherrill received an endorsement from Newark Mayor Ras J. Baraka. Sherrill and Caldwell will face Republican nominee Jack Ciattarelli and his running mate, Morris County Sheriff Jim Gannon, in the November election.
