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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Tammy Murray, Security Officer and Army Veteran, on Shelter Security and Prevailing Wage
3:43:15
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160 sec
Tammy Murray, a 46-year-old army veteran and security officer in NYC's shelter system, testified about her experiences working in shelters and the importance of receiving prevailing wage adjustments. She highlighted the challenges of shelter work and her personal journey from being a shelter resident to becoming a security officer.
- Murray emphasized the critical role of security officers in maintaining safety and order in shelters, including responding to emergencies and de-escalating conflicts.
- She shared her struggle to make ends meet before the prevailing wage adjustment, which nearly doubled her hourly salary.
- Murray urged the City Council to ensure security officers receive the back pay they are owed, especially as she faces job transition challenges due to shelter closures.
Tammy Murray
3:43:15
Good afternoon, everyone.
3:43:19
My name is Tammy Murray.
3:43:21
I'm 46 years old, and I was born and raised in New York City, and I'm also an army veteran.
3:43:28
I work as a security officer in the city's shelter system.
3:43:32
I've been working in security for almost eight years ever since coming back from the military.
3:43:38
On a day to day, my job is to keep everything running smoothly.
3:43:41
I make sure all my guards, my coworkers show up and that they're doing their job to keep everyone safe.
3:43:48
When things do happen, we're the first responders.
3:43:52
If there's a fire in the kitchen or anywhere in the building, we evacuate the building on a need to need basis.
3:43:58
If there's a fight, we step in and try to de escalate the situation.
3:44:03
It's not easy work, but it's important, and the thing the thing about shelters is that a lot of people don't want to be there.
3:44:13
It's true.
3:44:14
I know that because I went through the shelter system myself.
3:44:18
When I first got out the military and came back to New York, I was in the shelter system with my children.
3:44:24
So every time I go to work, I try to make it as smooth of an experience as possible for people coming in.
3:44:31
They're in a tough spot.
3:44:33
I moved out of the shelter system when I got a job at security.
3:44:37
It was huge for me, but still every month I was scrambling to pay my bills.
3:44:43
So when we got the prevailing wage adjustment, it was really was was really a big deal.
3:44:48
It would mean my hourly salary nearly doubled and I could pay all my bills and also help my children and grandchildren more, But then it took several months for me to see the new number hit as well as others.
3:45:02
As a hardworking veteran and mother, I deserve a living wage, and I deserve the pay that I worked almost three years of shifts for.
3:45:11
Ever since I got out of military, I've been fighting to get on my feet.
3:45:15
Right now, I'm in between jobs.
3:45:17
The shelter I worked at, since it was a migrant shelter had closed, and I've been waiting to be assigned to a new site.
3:45:25
That could take a little probably up to a few months.
3:45:28
I don't know.
3:45:29
I'm a little behind on my rent and phone bill, but with this money, I can finally catch up.
3:45:35
I can pay my bills and make it through this job transition.
3:45:39
Most importantly I can send something to my kids and grandkids.
3:45:43
I'm about to be a grandmother of four.
3:45:47
So I urge the City Council to find the back pay rightfully owned security officers like me as well as others.
3:45:55
Thank you.