Union Leaders Misrepresent Facts in Contract Talks for Security Guards, Says Securitas Security Services USA

SEIU Rejects Contract Proposal Currently in Effect for Thousands of Union
Members
SAN FRANCISCO--(Business Wire)--
Union leaders representing security officers guarding Kaiser Hospitals in
Oakland and throughout California have rejected a contract offer that currently
applies to thousands of union members and are distorting the facts after months
of contract talks.

"Union leaders have claimed there have been cuts in healthcare benefits for
security officers at Kaiser medical centers," said Sam Singer, a spokesman for
Securitas Security Services USA, which employs 1800 security officers at Kaiser
facilities in five states. "That is a deliberate falsehood. Securitas USA has
sought to apply a contract that currently covers thousands of union-member
security guards to the personnel working at Kaiser facilities. For union leaders
to suggest that this contract offer is unfair, after they praised it as a model
labor agreement in 2007, is the height of hypocrisy."

Securitas USA was hired to staff security at Kaiser Hospitals in February.
Security officers working at the healthcare facilities were not operating under
a union contract at the time. But Securitas USA agreed to bargain in good faith
with the Service Employees International Union.

Prior to Securitas USA, security officers had been working for InterCon without
a collective bargaining agreement for 15 years. Securitas USA is working to
finalize a labor agreement with these officers which will be on par with a
contract signed in 2007 in San Francisco that remains one of the most generous
collective bargaining agreements in the country.

"Technically, and under agreement with SEIU, Securitas USA was under no
obligation to bargain with the union at this time because these security
officers were not under a union contract to begin with," said Mr. Singer.
"However, Securitas USA is prepared to offer a contract that provides very
generous health insurance, including coverage for dependents, and a salary
package similar to what security officers in San Francisco earn."

Security companies, including Securitas USA, and union leaders reached a
contract agreement for more than 4,000 security officers in November 2007. The
agreement, announced at San Francisco City Hall, was praised by Mayor Gavin
Newsom as giving "dignity to the work that is being done by the security
officers." Mayor Newsom also suggested the contract would serve as a model for
other labor agreements around the country.

At the time, Mike Garcia, the vice president of Service Employees International
Union Local 1877, noted that the contract was approved unanimously by a union
bargaining committee and "goes a long way to lift hard-working security officers
out of poverty."

Securitas USA had sought to bargain in good faith to reach an agreement with the
union representing security guards working at Kaiser Hospitals. "We regret that
union leaders did not come to the bargaining table prepared to reach consensus,"
said Mr. Singer. "In this economy, when millions of Americans have lost jobs,
seen their pay cut and are working without healthcare, this contract offer is
fair and will keep security guards working where they are needed."

Securitas USA is the nation`s largest and most locally-focused security company
in the United States, with over 450 local branch managers and more than 100,000
security officers who provide unmatched security solutions to meet the specific
needs of thousands of businesses.

for Securitas Security Services USA
Sam Singer or Charlie Goodyear, 415-227-9700

Copyright Business Wire 2009