After several months of organizing to demand livable wages, health insurance, training and better working conditions, 850 Securitas workers at Los Angeles County and other public facilities will be officially recognized as members of SEIU SOULA. "This is a good first step in raising the standards for these officers. The hard work begins now in trying to negotiate a first contract during these tough economics times," said SEIU SOULA Executive Director Anton Farmby.

Just this summer, 2,000 security officers with SEIU who protect Kaiser Permanente hospitals nationwide signed a three-year contract with Securitas. That contract included wage increases, improved healthcare, paid sick days and holidays. A pending card count of additional officers would bump the number of newly recognized officers up to 1100-- 90 percent of the public work force.