Penn's AlliedBarton security guards should expect better working conditions for next semester - if the Undergraduate Assembly has its way.
The UA is currently working with Executive Vice President Craig Carnaroli, Vice President for Public Safety Maureen Rush and Allied Security District Manager Sidney Toombs to discuss the implementation of the assembly's Workers' Rights Proposal, which offers suggestions to improve the treatment of AlliedBarton security guards.
The proposal was approved by the UA two months ago and calls for the "administration to engage in a dialogue with AlliedBarton employees and representatives regarding their current working conditions."
It also states that guards should have the right to unionize without interference from AlliedBarton - an issue in which the University has consistently said they will not be involved.
Next semester, Rush and the UA will issue a joint statement about the progress that they have made thus far.
The University has already taken steps to improve the guards' working conditions, such as moving their meeting place from the Sansom Place East parking lot - which was said to be "rat-infested" - to the cleanlier CVS on the 3900 block of Walnut Street.
For now, AlliedBarton plans to move the bicycle guards again early next semester, this time to a refurbished building at 40th and Sansom streets, AlliedBarton spokesperson Larry Rubin said.
AlliedBarton is "continuing to provide the best and safest surroundings for students, faculty and staff," he added.
And while AlliedBarton security guards say they are happy to see efforts being made to improve their working conditions, some say there is still much to be done.
"There is an arbitrariness [among supervisors], such as [permitting] some guards to use cell phones for personal reasons" even though official AlliedBarton rules forbid cell phone use during working hours, said security guard George Darrah, who has worked at Penn for 10 years.
"I would like to see [the company] evaluate their supervisors," he added.
College sophomore Hayling Price, who authored the proposal, has been working with College senior Shakirah Simley - the outgoing chairwoman of the United Minorities Council - to launch the Penn Student Labor Action Project. They will also work with Penn's chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People to push for change.
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