Contact: Fabricio Rodriguez FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tel: 215-670-5627
Cell: 215-732-8318 PRESS CONFERENCE:
E-mail: Fabricio@phillyjwj.org April 3, 2008, 2-2:30 pm
1760 Market St.

ALLIEDBARTON GUARDS DECLARE “IT’S MORE THAN JUST A DREAM”- Black Workers Update King’s Memphis Message

Philadelphia, PA, April 2, 2008- Security guards in Philadelphia say that, forty years after the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., black workers are still struggling.

“The sanitation workers in Memphis, were fighting to get living wages and health care and a union.” Said Daniel Williams, an activist and AlliedBarton guard. Security guards are planning a special prayer service to commemorate the forty year anniversary of the assassination of Dr. King on April 6, 2008 from 3 pm – 5 pm at Arch St. Methodist Church, 55 N. Broad St.

Security guards from work sites all across the city are trying to form a worker association that they call the Philadelphia Security Officers Union (PSOU) to advocate for the betterment of the fast growing private security industry.

“Private security officers face all kinds of abuses and problems like low-pay, poor training, hazardous conditions and the lack of health care and sick-leave.” States Ronald Billups, a security guard and leader in the PSOU.

“The sanitation workers were almost entirely black, private security in Philadelphia is 97% black. The sanitation workers were disenfranchised by the mayor saying they couldn’t unionize, we face a hostile employer and clients that ignore our situation.” Says Billups, in references to the Memphis, Tennessee sanitation strike.

It was at this strike by workers who were trying to form a union that Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated on April 4, 1968.

“Back then, the workers carried signs that said “I Am A Man.” Since many of the guards are women and mothers, we bring it up to date and tell the employers that “I Am A Human.”

For More information on “It’s More Than Just A Dream” service contact Fabricio at 215-670-5855 or visit www.morethanjustadream.org

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