As thousands of students returned to the University of Pittsburgh, security officers employed on the campus by U.S. Security Associates rallied to improve jobs and safety in Pittsburgh. The officers who work at Pitt are the lowest-paid in the city, at less than $9 per hour, without meaningful benefits or training.

“U.S. Security needs to recognize that we are an asset and not a liability,” said campus security officer Phyllis Harris. “Training is essential for us to do an effective job.” Pittsburgh officers put their lives on the line every day, but lack necessary training in the event of an emergency.

Members of 32BJ SEIU succeeded in passing a new training law through Pittsburgh City Council earlier this year, and are seeking the tools to implement it, through a collective bargaining agreement. The training covers the role of security officers, laws and liability, use of force, terrorism, ethics, emergency response, medical emergencies, fire, chemical spills, and other topics.

Watch TV coverage of the rally here and here, and read more here.