... After seven months of negotiations that culminated in a marathon 24-hour meeting, union officials representing thousands of private security guards in Los Angeles announced a tentative contract with several property management companies that provide security to most of the buildings in the city, including numerous Downtown high-rises.

The deal results in a 40% increase in salary and healthcare benefits over the next five years, said Faith Culbreath, president of the Service Employees International Union Local 2006 during the event at the corner of Crenshaw and Martin Luther King Jr. boulevards. The agreement was expected to be approved by SEIU members Saturday, Jan. 26 (Los Angeles Downtown News went to press before the vote by members).

The agreement, between the SEIU and security companies that service more than 80% of the commercial real estate in the county, covers 4,000 security officers in office buildings 75,000 square feet or larger.