Newark, NJ – A Newark Housing Authority security contractor will reimburse security officers it fired for being members of the 32BJ-SEIU union. In an out-of-court settlement, Roman Security admitted no wrongdoing but agreed to pay the affected workers “tens of thousands of dollars in back pay,” according to 32BJ. The union filed a complaint with the National Labor Relations Board in 2015 after two security officers were fired for circulating a union petition. It also alleged that Roman Security refused to keep union employees on the job when it took over the contract for a building at 744 Broad St. in 2016, and instead hired seven other workers at lower pay. “I struggled to make ends meet after I was abruptly and illegally fired days after I filled out a union questionnaire,” Kariymah Barrino, a single mother from Newark, told the Newark Patch. “It’s so gratifying to see that our long fight for justice has finally paid off.” “This settlement agreement isn’t just about money, it’s about workers’ rights,” said Kevin Brown, 32BJ’s state director. “We’re thrilled Roman Security decided to settle this amicably out of court and make the workers whole for their losses.” Read more
