City Security Guards Get Back Pay After WNYC Investigation

New York, NY —

500 private security guards are getting close to $300,000 in back pay and benefits, thanks in part to a WNYC investigation into a city security contractor. WNYC's Bob Hennelly has more.

REPORTER: The recent settlement of the workers claims was secured by City Comptroller Bill Thompson. Back in 2006 WNYC looked into complaints from employees and their union that Tristar Patrol Services was shortchanging workers who protect city buildings and the Staten Island Ferry.

WNYC's probe found that just a few years earlier, the state comptroller cited Tristar for misrepresenting the training and qualifications of the guards, and the Tristar's owner was previously convicted of assualt and forced to resign from the Port Authority police force.

Subsequently the city selected a new contractor to supply security guards. A spokesman for the New York secretary of state, which regulates the guard industry, says Tristar's license was revoked in 2007. For WNYC I am Bob Hennelly.