UPGRADES URGED FOR SECURITY GUARDS.Byline: Rick Orlov Orlov (Орлรณв) is the name of a Russian noble family which produced several distinguished statesmen, diplomatists and soldiers. The family first gained distinction in the person of four Orlov brothers, of whom the senior was Catherine the Great's Staff Writer Concerned about the high turnover among security guards protecting privately owned commercial buildings, city officials called Thursday Thursday: see week. for improved training, pay and benefits. City Council President Eric Garcetti Eric Garcetti (born 1971) is the son of former Los Angeles county district attorney Gil Garcetti, and was elected to the Los Angeles City Council in 2001. He was reelected in 2005. and Council members Jack Weiss Jack Weiss, is a member of the Los Angeles City Council representing the 5th district. Weiss was elected in 2001 and reelected in 2005. The 5th district includes parts of the Westside and the San Fernando Valley. and Wendy Greuel Wendy Greuel is President Pro Tempore of the Los Angeles City Council representing the 2nd District. Greuel was elected in 2002 to fill the remainder of the term of Councilman Joel Wachs. She was elected in her own right in 2003 and reelected in 2007. held a City Hall news conference, where they promised to hold public hearings on a possible law designed to improve working conditions for the guards. "When I was in Israel recently on a trip on security, one of the aspects that was emphasized was the need to work with private security forces," said Weiss, whose Public Safety Committee will conduct the hearings to determine what action the city can take. "In many cases - if there is a terrorist attack, a fire or an earthquake - these are the people who will be first responders first responder First response personnel Emergency medicine A person employed in the public sector–EMT, fire fighter, police, volunteer EMS–whose duties include provision of immediate medical care in the event of an emergency; FRs have basic emergency ." Weiss said the immediate concern is for guards protecting commercial buildings, especially high-rises or other potential terrorist targets, but that any programs could be expanded to include other types of buildings where private security guards are employed. The plan was prompted by a recent study by the Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. Alliance for a New Economy, which found that the turnover rate among security guards was more than 100 percent at 37 buildings downtown. Garcetti said most owners of commercial buildings agree they need a more stable work force and that higher pay - most guards earn less than $8 an hour, without benefits - and better training are key to keeping guards on the job. The city's efforts come after an unsuccessful three-year campaign by the Service Employees International Union to organize the security guards. Building owners have voiced concern about having a security force represented by the same union that has organized its janitorial services and the possibility that a contract dispute could trigger a joint walkout. rick.orlov(at)dailynews.com (213) 978-0390 |
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