Title
Dept/ Agency: Offices of Municipal Council/City Clerk
Action: ( ) Ratifying (X) Authorizing ( ) Amending
Type of Service: Urging/Supporting
Purpose: Urging/Support for displaced NHA security officers due to a change of contractors, ensure they are offered work at NHA and establish policies strengthening protections from displacement and wage and benefit standards.
Sponsor(s): Council President, Mildred C. Crump
Additional Information:
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WHEREAS, the Municipal Council of the City of Newark has learned that the Newark Housing Authority does not require bidders to adhere to prevailing wage and benefit standards; and
WHEREAS, in June 2019, The Newark Housing Authority terminated its contract with Allied Universal Security Services, LLC, a company which paid $12.50 an hour and provided health insurance for employees with no co-premium and other fringe benefits; and
WHEREAS, the work formerly performed by Allied was given to Pro Cops and Prime Security and as a result 60 Newark Housing Authority subcontracted security officers lost their wage and benefits rates as Pro Cops and Prime pays $12.00/hour; and
WHEREAS, at least 30 experienced security officers, lost their jobs; and
WHEREAS, these workers now face economic hardship and the Newark Housing Authority has lost experienced workers who knew the neighborhoods and residents; and
WHEREAS, the Municipal Council of the City Newark has adopted prevailing wage and benefit standards, as well as displaced worker protection, for its own contracting and believes that all Newark residents should have good family-sustaining jobs; and
WHEREAS, prevailing wage and benefit standards are essential to recruit and retain high quality workers who can provide the security services desperately needed by Newark residents.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MUNICIPAL COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NEWARK ,NEW JERSEY THAT:
It strongly urges the Newark Housing Authority:
1. to see that all former NHA security officers are offered work at NHA and none lose his/her job solely due to a change of contractors;
2. to enact a policy requiring the same prevailing wage and benefit standards for its contractors as the City of Newark does; and
3. to enact a policy protecting displaced workers who are discharged without cause when a contract changes hands as the City of Newark does.
STATEMENT
This resolution urging support for NHA security officers who lost their jobs and/or wage and benefits standards when the NHA hired a new security contractor.