Bank of America Security Officers Protest Job Losses and Cuts to Health Care Coverage

--NYC officers took fight for jobs and health care to BofA's front door--

CHARLOTTE, N.C., Feb. 16 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Bank of America security officers along with dozens of community leaders and local union members protested today outside of the bank's Charlotte headquarters to demand that BofA restore jobs and health care benefits to the men and women who keep its employees safe.  During the protest, current and former BofA security officers attempted to deliver a giant empty prescription drug bottle to the bank's CEO. 

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"For years, I worked as a security officer at Merrill Lynch," said Neslin McKella-Brown, an officer who lost her job after seven years. "We proudly guarded the bank's property and employees, but when [Bank of America] took over, dozens of us lost our jobs and more than 100 of us lost our health care coverage." 

More than 34 security officers working at Bank of America buildings in New York City were recently forced out of their jobs, while another 130 officers working there have lost health care coverage. Meanwhile, Bank of America continues to pay out billions in bonuses to top executives and was recently charged with defrauding investors and misleading the government by the New York State Attorney General Andrew Cuomo.  The action was held just days before shareholders arrive for a special meeting on repaying taxpayer bailouts.

"It's not right that Bank of America can take billions of tax dollars, dole out astronomical bonuses while cutting jobs and benefits from working people," said Mike Fishman, President of 32BJ SEIU.  "Bank executives shouldn't get rich at the expense of working families."

With more than 120,000 members, including 70,000 in New York, 32BJ is the largest property services union in the country.

SOURCE SEIU Local 32BJ