The Commonwealth of Massachusetts was born in 1780 with a simple idea--use our common wealth to maximize our common good.

But these days state officials at the state-operated Massachusetts Information Technology Center (MITC) in Chelsea are using the common wealth--taxpayer money--not for the common good but rather the good of U.S. Security Associates--a company with an estimated $1.2 billion in annual revenue that pays its workers as little as $8 an hour, with few, if any, benefits.

That's why on Tuesday a dozen security officers, community supporters, and a couple of very large puppets gathered in front of MITC to call on the Commonwealth to either find a new security firm or urge U.S. Security Associates to act responsibly.

More than 100 employees of the Commonwealth signed a petition in support of the officers.

"I'm a security officer, I know what officers go through every day," said officer Lydia Kamonous. "I think it would be good for these officers to have a union."

A security officers union at MITC would help create good Massachusetts jobs, give Massachusetts taxpayers a good return on their investment, and help return the Commonwealth to its roots.