Private security is one of the three fastest-growing occupations in Los Angeles County. And security officers now want their piece of the money pie. After years of working for low wages, lack of benefits and a lack of job security, the 10,000-plus security officers working in County of Los Angeles want things to change.

To get what they want, many feel the need to unionize like in other departments, such as janitors, engineers and parking lot attendants who work for wealthy building owners like Maguire Properties. So far, that proposal has been nixed.

Maguire Properties, one of the biggest operators, managers and developers of office properties in the United States, disputes such claims, and said it is not opposed to security officers formalizing a union.

“Maguire does not employ the security guards. They are employed by contractors,” said a Maguire Properties spokesperson. “Maguire does not oppose the unionization of security guards. In fact, we have had a great relationship with organized labor for many years.”

However, religious and community leaders are putting in work to address this issue, especially since nine out of 10 security officers are either African-American or Latino. African Americans have the most representation in the security workforce, with 65 percent of the officers working for private security. Hispanics make up 25 percent.

A three-year campaign has been in the works to improve work conditions for security officers, said Rev. William Smart, who is leading the movement for better compensation for the workers. Smart led a rally of security officers and community leaders that converged at the Wells Fargo Tower in downtown Los Angeles last week to protest what they believe to be unfair and unjust treatment.

“The Bible teaches us that David can beat Goliath,” said Smart. “Despite the vast resources of building owners, we stand steadfast in our commitment to helping security officers achieve a better life for themselves, their families and their communities. We’re fighting for the rights of security officers to be recognized. But one of the main people (involved) said they don’t want to see it happen. The owners have to be open to the idea and accept it. We’re going to keep going at it.”

Smart, who convenes his worship at Christ Liberty Tabernacle, said there are a lot of concerns that need to be addressed.

“There is no job security,” Smart said. “They have to work more than one job. Most of the security officers don’t have health care, and a lot of them don’t have sick days. There’s also a lot of violations–like not receiving the required number of breaks and working off the clock.”

The biggest concern of many security officers is the low wages that companies offer them. The average pay for security officers is roughly $8.44 an hour. William Edwards, who works for American Commercial Security Services (ACSS) at the 915 Building in Los Angeles, said the minimum pay security officers need to receive should be a lot higher.

Edwards, who has three children, said he can no longer afford to work at the same wage level.

“It starts with the finances,” Edwards said. “We don’t get the compensation for what we do. The tenants look to us. If there is a bomb threat or anything serious, we’re the first ones they look at. We should get at least $11 an hour. Most (security) guards start off at $7.50 an hour. I feel I deserve more than what I am getting. It’s hard to survive off the wages I’m getting.”

Low wages play a part in the high turnover rate of security officers. The turnover rate for security officers is between 100 percent and 300 percent annually, according to the Stand For Security Coalition.

This is where formalizing a union comes into play. The SEIU is ready to step in if given the green light. Security officers here have been able to gauge what their counterparts are making in major cities, such as Chicago and San Francisco, after SEIU came into the picture. In Chicago, with SEIU representing them, security officers make an average of $11.85, with a free health plan for family members and eight paid holidays and three weeks’ paid vacation a year.

In San Francisco, the hourly rate for security officers is $12 an hour, with free health insurance and nine paid holidays and two weeks of paid vacation.

Security officers here in Los Angeles usually don’t have paid holidays and would be lucky to get one week of paid vacation without the union behind them.

“We simply cannot support our families on the wages we receive, nor can we adequately protect the public without proper training,” said security officer John Wilson. “It is time for building owners in Los Angeles to treat us with respect and dignity.”

The security officers are not alone in this fight. Powerful community organizations such as the Community Coalition, NAACP, SCLC, Agenda & Scope and ACORN are on the frontlines of this fight as well. Nation of Islam’s Minister Tony Muhammad, Bishop John Bryant (bishop of the American Methodist Episcopal Church), Assemblymember Karen Bass and the Rev. Cecil “Chip” Murray (FAME) are among the many individuals lending their support to the cause.

Lillie Lewis started off making $6 an hour as a security officer 18 years ago. She’s now with her third security company, Universal Protective Services, and now earns $9.35 per hour. She enjoys what she does, she said. Helping people as a security officer gives her great fulfillment, she added. All she wants, she said, is what other security officers want–fair treatment. Lewis said she’s been told not to participate in unionizing because she and other security officers are getting paid fair wages.

“The building owners see it as a conflict,” Lewis said. And as far as health benefits go, Lewis said she just can’t afford to go to the doctor.

“Unless I’m falling apart,” she said, “I don’t even go to the doctor.”