Four Whistleblower Union Activists Terminated-
representatives from the Philadelphia Security Officers Union (PSOU) and recently terminated security guards from the Philadelphia Museum of Art (PMA) will announce a number of OSHA, L&I and NRLB violations at a press conference at 4:00 pm, October 27th, on top of the “Rocky Steps” in front of the Museum.
For more than three years the PSOU has advocated to improve both public safety and their jobs at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Recently, arguing that Museum leaders are ignoring the lack of working fire phones in the building, the Union filed complaints with the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry and OSHA. Immediately following the filing, four guards were relieved of their duties by the Museum.
“We have been making noise about the fire phones since April. They still haven’t done anything about it,” says Sulaiman Kumara, one of the union leaders who filed the OSHA and L&I complaints on behalf of the union.
A rash of firings followed an October 8th protest where guards spoke out against safety violations at the Museum that they had reported, but that the PMA administration has thus far ignored.
“We are charged with protecting the safety of the collections, our coworkers, and the viewing public,” stated Juniata Love, a leader from Roman Sentry security company, “but instead of being recognized for fulfilling our duty, the Museum has reacted by firing people.” Love was terminated on October 12th after speaking at the rally.
The terminated guards and union representatives will detail the recent firings and the other complaints that have been filed against AlliedBarton, Roman Sentry and the Philadelphia Museum of Art during the press conference.
Violations
Wages & Lunch
The union has also filed a request to the Philadelphia Labor and Standards Unit for an investigation into whether the museum is has violated the Philadelphia Minimum Wage and Benefit Ordinance since it was passed in City Council in March of 2008.
If the city agency finds the museum in violation of the ordinance, the Museum will be obligated to pay 150 security, 40 custodial and 25 cafeteria workers the difference of in wages for more than two years, when the law was enacted. These workers at the Museum currently earn between $7.84/hour and $10.03/hour. The Philadelphia minimum wage is currently $10.88/hour.
New museum policy which revoked their lunch break for guards that work in the Perelman Annex.
The union held a protest in reaction to the company’s offering of the meager $.25 raise during negotiations with the union.
Labor
Roman Sentry is another security contractor on the property which will have their election to join the AlliedBarton guards in the union on October 28th.
Juanita Love, Roman Sentry guard and union leader was terminated after speaking at the union rally on October 8.
Asia Ray, Cherelle Cross and Kenneth Adams were terminated after participating in the October 8th rally or after speaking out against the ending of their lunch breaks.
AlliedBarton has increased the number of tours require in the Perelman, a change that was instituted in working conditions that was not negotiated with the union.
Fire Code
The museum has not had working fire phones since April 2010.
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