Chants of "Brantley Security, shame on you" reverberated through Harbor East Monday afternoon as more than 30 Brantley officers began a 24-hour strike against the company. The officers, who provide security for the shops, restaurants, hotels and residences of Harbor East, claim the company’s managers have retaliated against them for trying to unionize.
For more than a year, the officers have been trying obtain union representation with 32 BJ SEIU, a regional arm of the Service Employees International Union. In addition to pay increases, the officers want safer working conditions. Officers said they had to stand outside during dangerously cold temperatures last winter.
The security officers submitted a second petition to unionize in October after their first one was thrown in the trash can earlier this year.
Since the second petition was submitted, the officers said managers have banned them from any of the Harbor East buildings while off the clock; meaning they can't shop or go to the movies. They also accused managers of going after some officers.
Travis Henson-Rollins has been with the company for three years and was one of the union organizers. She said she was sent home for having hair that didn't meet company standards.
"I was sent home for having two-tone hair,” she said. “And I have had two-tone hair since I've been employed with Brantley. I got employed with two-tone hair."
Henson-Rollins said she was not allowed to return to work until her hair was "to policy standards with the uniform."
Jim Burnett, spokesman for Brantley’s parent company, did not return a phone call seeking comment.
The union filed charges with the National Labor Relations Board against Brantley earlier this month alleging company policies were changed to keep workers from unionizing.
The officers have received support to unionize from City Council President Jack Young as well as the City chapter of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference.