Security Professionals of America was one of three unions that protested against the Allentown School District last week, according to a report by The Morning Call. Also in attendance were members from the Educational Support Personnel union and the district’s paraprofessionals union.

Those in attendance protested an increase in out-of-pocket health care costs and a three-year salary freeze. Union leaders asked school directors for money, fairness and respect, and claimed school leaders had just hired three new administrators with high salaries. 

Superintendent Russ Mayo denied these claims and read a statement that said, in part, that the three protesting unions had received the most money in salary raises of any of the district’s eight employee groups and unions in the past seven years. Mayo also said negotiations should be done in private and that the district is among “the poorest of the poor” and that employee appreciation could not be shown through money right now.

The President of the Security Professionals of America, Gordon Crowell Jr., said three years worth of step raises for a full security guard staff of 55 employees would cost the district $95,300 – less than one administrator’s salary.

The security guards union voted earlier this week to allow Crowell to call a strike at anytime. If negotiators come to the table in good faith soon, Crowell says a strike can be avoided, but he is prepared to move ahead with a strike if necessary.

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