32BJ: NEWARK HOUSING AUTHORITY CONTRACTOR REACHES SETTLEMENT WITH WRONGFULLY TERMINATED WORKERS
NEWARK HOUSING AUTHORITY CONTRACTOR REACHES SETTLEMENT WITH WRONGFULLY TERMINATED WORKERS
Settlement agreement includes tens of thousands in back pay for security officers
Newark—Justice has finally been served to a group of security officers who were illegally terminated from their job at the Newark Housing Authority. The workers’ former employer, Roman Security, has reached an out of court settlement agreement with 32BJ SEIU—the labor union representing the security officers. As part of the agreement, Roman Security has agreed to pay the affected workers tens of thousands of dollars in back pay. This includes security officers who 32BJ claimed were denied jobs because of their union affiliation.
“I struggled to make ends meet after I was abruptly and illegally fired days after I filled out a union questionnaire said Kariymah Barrion, a single mother from Newark. “It’s so gratifying to see that our long fight for justice has finally paid off,”.
“This settlement agreement isn’t just about money; it’s about workers’ rights,” said Kevin Brown, 32BJ Vice President and NJ State Director. “No worker should be illegally fired or denied a job because of their union affiliation. That’s why 32BJ filed a complaint against Roman Security with the National Labor Relations Board. We’re thrilled Roman Security decided to settle this amicably out of court and make the workers whole for their losses. We look forward to working cooperatively with Roman in the future to ensure workers’ rights.”
32BJ filed the complaint with the NLRB two years ago after two contracted security officers at the Newark Housing Authority were illegally terminated after they engaged in union activity which involved circulating a union petition. The complaint also alleges the contractor refused to hire union employees who had been working at 744 Broad Street in Newark before Roman Security took over the contract there in 2016. Shortly afterwards, seven other workers were hired at a reduced pay rate.
Roman Security admits no wrongdoing under the terms of the settlement agreement.
*With 165,000 members in 11 states–including 12,000 in New Jersey–32BJ SEIU is the largest property services union in the country.
Contact: Desirée Taylor
