Fort Point Security Services, they’re the ones who keep the Tourism Village safe, but today a reported 25 workers walked off the job, angry that they had been short changed with their salary. They called 7NEWS and Jacqueline Godwin has more.
John Campos, Dissatisfied Security Officer
“They say that on Friday they will take out three days out of our salary and then they will pay us back at the end of the month. We aren’t with that. We are big men, we work for a reason. We have families to feed and we have bills. This is crap Jackie, enough is enough.”
This afternoon there was minimal security at the Tourism Village as the majority of the law enforcement officers walked off the job leaving establishments like Diamonds International vulnerable to crime. Why? Well the security officers who are employees of Fort Point Security Services say they are very dissatisfied with the way they have been unfairly treated and grossly underpaid.
Jacqueline Godwin,
How many actually walked off the job?
Lisburn Marin, Dissatisfied Security Officer
“I would say 25 because first of all no one is happy with this amount of money because the man told us we will make a flat salary like a police officer. It is four days working and four days off at $50 a day. Then the point is the man come and tell us now that he will take out 3 days out of our pay for what he can’t even explain to us for what. They are chancing us big time. The man even told us that we can’t go to the union. All the holiday pay, the 25th, the 26th, the 27th – like coming on to Christmas and on the 10th and 21st of September – we got as half salary. That is what the man told us personally in the meeting.”
Today when the workers collected their salary they could not believe the amount they have been paid for the past two weeks. According to the security officers they have had enough of one month of bad treatment by management.
Wilfred Hamilton,
“In all I worked thirteen days and I was expecting to collect $650 and they will watch a big man like me and give me $218 which is no kind of money in this time here. And they will watch on me and give me $218. They think I born big and simple. All of us decided to walk off because we can’t stand
anymore of this. This is too much. This is not the first time. This is all the time they are chancing we. We have to make a stand for them to know that we are not simple.”
Deon Canelo, Dissatisfied Security Officer
“I get back into the office and really they are not paying me from the second which was when I started to work and then I already worked my days at $50 a night and they will look at me and give me $300.17. That is totally wrong because I have wife and five kids. I have a newborn kid and I need to support my family, I need to pay my rent, my utility bills, and for me to get $300.17 for 15 days, I can’t live with that so I supposed to quit today. I am going to throw in my uniform and that is that.”
The security officers after walking off the job then proceeded over to the main office on Eyre Street where they voiced their concerns. According to the disgruntled employees the man responsible is the Deputy General Manager Carmen Zetina but that he has refused to talk with them.
Jacqueline Godwin,
And have you guys been trying to meet with him?
Lisburn Marin,
“Well the man says he doesn’t want to hear nothing. He told us that personally in front of our face, everybody in there. We had our meeting right there at the Fort Point Security at the office when he said he didn’t want to hear anything else. He said who don’t like it should just go.”
Jacqueline Godwin,
And then you guys decided to walk off?
Lisburn Marin,
“We walked off because we can’t work for that man. First of all $50 a day is not bad but the point is that when it comes to our holiday,
you can’t tell us that is $50. That is time and a half. So what happened, he is jumping the law?”
John Campos,
“The labor law says it plain, on holiday you have to pay, that is the labor law because I work in Diamonds and my life is in jeopardy. Any number can play any day at any time. They can’t bring back my life. If they come and rob the place right now, my family will have to bury me and they will cry. They can’t bring back me. Only few of us who have gun licenses work in Diamonds. Nobody else.”
Jacqueline Godwin,
So there is no security right now at Diamonds?
John Campos,
“No we had to walk off because this is chance.”
Alice Rosales, Dissatisfied Security Officer
“The money I collect is not right because I work 13 days and they only give me $390. That means I only work for one week and I worked the other week free so I didn’t get all of my money. I am a single mother and I have bills to pay and I have my babysitting to pay and I have rent that I need to pay. And this money, when I go to pay my babysitter and rent, I will be left with nothing for the next two weeks to eat so this is not right.”
Jacqueline Godwin,
So what’s the next move you all will stay off the job or what?
Wilfred Hamilton,
“Well they have to come to a decision or an agreement because I can’t maintain my family with $218 for the next two weeks. This is highly ridiculous.”
Lisburn Marin,
“Well the next move, I don’t know what will happen because a lot of people are walking off and everybody is walking out of Diamonds International right now – a very important place where they say we can’t buy a diamond.”
The security officers say if management fails to address the situation then they have no choice but to remain off the job. Jacqueline Godwin for 7NEWS.
When 7NEWS contacted James Nisbet, the General Manager of Tourism Village, he stressed that at no time was security breached. In fact Nisbet’s characterization is that the incident was very organized. He says those security officers who left their post made prior arrangements to leave a back up crew in place so there was always the presence of security on the compound. Nisbet says furthermore they also have a number of their staff who have also received training in security and would be used at any time if their services are required in this case it was not.
7NEWS did try to speak with management of fort point but we were told that they have no comment for the media. Late word out from the disgruntled security officers is that their employer Mike Feinstein did return to the office and has promised to issue checks that would make up the difference but until that happens the employees say their position remains the same.
