Amazon Drops Security Contractor For Unionized Companies

SEATTLE, WA — Over 1,000 security guards who patrol Amazon's Seattle campus may get to join a union, but not the way they've been pushing for.

On Wednesday, Amazon security contractor Security Industry Specialists (SIS) announced it would lay off its 1,066 Amazon guards by the end of July. But the layoffs are happening because Amazon is dropping SIS for two security companies that use union labor. The workers who got layoff notices will likely all be hired back, Amazon said in a statement.

"Our onsite security needs have changed over the years and we have selected two vendors that can scale with us. All employees of the current security vendor will have the opportunity to apply to the new vendors," a spokesperson told Patch.

Amazon will use the companies Allied Universal and Securitas, which are both represented by the SEIU6 Property Services NW union — the same union the SIS workers have been trying to join in recent years. SEIU claims the SIS workers have endured verbal abuse, wage theft, and sexual harassment.

SEIU has also been pressuring Amazon about SIS. The union held a rally in support of the SIS security guards on May Day this year.

"This year, our labor family will rally in solidarity with SIS Officers at Amazon. Security officers on Amazon's campus have faced discrimination, harassment, abuse, and wage theft. When they have tried to organize for dignity in the workplace, they have been threatened by their employer. SIS officers have the right to organize and unionize without fear of retaliation! Let's show them they are not alone," the union wrote on the Facebook page for the May Day protest.

SIS has called the SEIU organizing efforts a " vicious 'corporate campaign,'" and has pushed back on its website on claims that Muslim employees were not given time to observe Ramadan. SIS was founded in 1999 and is located in Culver City, Calif.