Security officers in Miami, Florida, have voted to authorize a lawful strike unless their employer, Kent Security, raises their wages to comply with the Miami Living Wage Ordinance.

The officers, who work hard to protect Miami's public buildings, called on city officials earlier this year to investigate allegations of wage theft by Kent. On April 26th, they filed a living wage complaint, requesting the city of Miami to order Kent to pay up to $100,000 in witheld pay.

Miami's Living Wage Ordinance was set in place to ensure the city's tax dollars went toward responsible contractors who provided good paying jobs to local residents. Kent Security officers say that they were paid below the minimum wage set by the Ordinance for at least two years while working under a taxpayer-funded contract.

"Where's the $100,000 that Kent owes us?" said Herbert Renard, who works as a security officer for Kent Security. "There is a living wage in this city and we are here to ask Kent to do the right thing and follow the law."

In the security industry, a living wage ordinance like Miami's not only raises the standard of living for the city's security officers, but ensures that taxpayer dollars go toward public safety.

Last week, the officers protested outside City Hall over the contractor taking taxpayer dollars that were supposed to go back into the community. They plan to walk off the job on August 9th unless the company immediately addresses the wage issue.