Union security workers for the California offices of OpenAI, Anthropic, and other tech companies announced on Wednesday that they had authorized a strike.
The security personnel, who are seeking better pay, are employed by staffing agencies that provide building security for OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, Meta, and Salesforce, the SEIU-United Service Workers West said.
Business Insider previously reported that Anthropic asked employees to work from home last week, as the company believed there could be an imminent strike by Allied Universal, the security staffing firm for its San Francisco office.
On Wednesday, an unfair-labor-practice strike was officially authorized as union security officers marched through San Francisco and near the offices of OpenAI and Anthropic. It was not immediately clear if a strike would definitely go ahead, or when.
Some companies have been tightening security protocols in recent years. The Wall Street Journal reported that Anthropic and OpenAI have dealt with several threats against their employees. In April, police said a Molotov cocktail was thrown into the home of OpenAI’s Sam Altman, who later said AI “doomerism talk” may have contributed to the attack.
The SEIU-USWW, which represents roughly 14,000 security workers, said it had been bargaining with Allied and other staffing agencies, such as Securitas and GardaWorld, for improved wages and benefits for staff in the San Francisco Bay Area, Silicon Valley, and Los Angeles County.
“We’re asking Allied and the other security companies to stop playing games, come to the table, and settle a strong contract with real raises, better training, and respect for the officers who keep these buildings safe,” Christopher Yates, an Allied Universal security officer who lives in Hayward, said in an emailed statement sent by the union.
Representatives for OpenAI, Anthropic, Salesforce, Google, and Meta did not immediately respond to a Business Insider request for comment.
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