City Hall Gets Flowers Instead of Protest from Security Guards

Bouquet of SEIU flowers on City Commissioner Amanda Fritz's desk.

City Hall officials bracing for a protest this afternoon by security guards instead received a pleasant surprise: a delivery of flowers.

After nearly 10 months of heated negotiations, SEIU Local 49 has reached a tentative agreement over wages and benefits for security officers at private businesses downtown.

Sources tell WW that Mayor Charlie Hales' office stepped in to grease a deal for the guards—who also have a contract guarding City Hall. 

That's a striking contrast to Hales' announcement today that he will try to bust the police commanding officers' union.

The effort was rewarded. A demonstration organized by the security officers was set to take place in front of City Hall from 3 pm today until 3 pm tomorrow. But it was called off after the tentative deal was reached.

Instead, to thank City Hall for its help in reaching an agreement, SEIU Local 49 sent bouquets to the desks of all five members of City Council. 

"The deal pleases the mayor," says Hales spokesman Dana Haynes, "who praises both sides for good-faith bargaining and for keeping an eye on serving the community."

SEUI Local 49 communications director Jesse Stemmler declined to comment on the details of the new contract—which includes vacation and health-care increases—until after union members vote on it this Saturday.

But the SEIU's card reads like this:


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