San Francisco--In a major victory for 5,000 security officers united in SEIU-USWW, workers Thursday night won a tentative agreement on a new union contract that will raise security industry standards and improve jobs that officers' families and communities rely on. "We won thanks to the support of people all over the Bay Area who care about the kind of place we're going to live in" says Officer Keven Adams of ABM Security. "This is a big deal for the people we serve every day and for us, our families, and our communities."

The agreement is the culmination of a six-month campaign by security officers for good jobs that drew the backing of local clergy, elected officials, members of labor unions, and community leaders. Coming just one day after nine security officer supporters were arrested for blocking the intersection of First and Market Streets in an act of civil disobedience, the tentative agreement includes hard-fought gains in wages, healthcare, paid sick days, and on-the-job protections. On the recommendation of the security officers' elected bargaining committee, the tentative agreement will be placed before the full membership for ratification on Tuesday and Wednesday of next week. Full details of the agreement will be released after SEIU-USWW members have reviewed and ratified the accord. The tentative agreement was reached on the same day of a protest at the annual general meeting of Google, where community groups and workers urged the tech company to support an effort by 3,000 Silicon Valley security officers to form a union in order to battle rising income inequality in the South Bay. Such agreements are tangible evidence of how union membership and participation can help workers improve their lives and win the good jobs for our communities. In Los Angeles, more than 2,000 security officers--also represented by SEIU-USWW--will return to the bargaining table next week after talks broke down there on May 22.