Nearly 14,000 union security officers represented by SEIU United Service Workers West began striking Friday across the San Francisco Bay Area and Los Angeles, demanding better pay, benefits, and training. The guards work for major contractors protecting facilities for tech companies including Anthropic, Google, Amazon, and Microsoft, as well as retailers and hospitals. According to union research, Bay Area security guards earn about $20 per hour, with 80% unable to cover basic living costs.
Approximately 14,000 security guards working for major tech companies plan to strike starting Friday after months of failed negotiations over wages and benefits. The guards, represented by SEIU-USWW, are seeking $30 per hour compared to the current median wage of $20.09 and a modest 65-cent raise offer on the table. The strike reflects tensions over compensation disparity between security workers and the tech industry's vast wealth.