Keeping Students Safe and the Union Strong
Security Officer– University
By Ellen Keohane
As a security officer, Nicole Tanis occasionally faces angry or annoyed people who just want to get past her. “It’s really important to stay calm,” she advised. “You need to be patient, alert and aware of what’s going on,” she added.
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Fighting to Secure Benefits for Guards
Security Officer–Public Building
By Ajai Raj
Aurelia Brown is fighting for security guards nationwide—and she isn’t giving up anytime soon.
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Making Sure Everything is ‘Fantastic’
Security Officer– Commercial Building
By Alan Krawitz
To his colleagues, Clifton Minott is much more than the security and safety expert at 1333 Broadway in Midtown Manhattan. While he has yet to be mistaken for a superhero, his eternally sunny disposition at work has earned him the label of “Mr. Fantastic.”
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Raising a Family and Strengthening the City
Lower Manhattan Office Cleaner
Office cleaner Alberto Moore, 50, left the New York University campus at 6:30 a.m. on Sept. 13, but his day wasn’t done. Three hours later, he stood on the corner of Lexington Avenue and 91st Street, handing out flyers for New York State Assembly candidate Dan Quart.
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Cleaning Medical Waste & Confidential Files with Care
Lower Manhattan Office Cleaner
By Laura Shin
Yuet Hong Chu came to the United States in 1982. She arrived with the motivation to work hard, and she hasn’t let it go.
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Adding Life to New York Life
Midtown Office Cleaner
Norma Quizi does her job, and does it well.
She was just named NYC’s best Midtown office cleaner by the city’s building service workers union.
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Green Is Clean, Thanks to Her
Midtown Office Cleaner
With a kind, motherly voice and a penchant for calling others “my dear,” Luz Hurtado has an ability to make people feel she cares. Her kindness has been a defining characteristic in her life, one that has given her opportunities that were once unimaginable.
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Her Toughest Job Was Being a Single Mom
Theater/Event Cleaner
At mention of her 2011 Building Service Worker Award, Raisa Ramos takes a long pause and shrugs her shoulders in modesty.
It feels good to be recognized, but as a single mother of four boys—Eric, Carlos, Christian and Oliver—she feels that her accomplishments transcend an award. Working hard stems from her habit of always putting others first, said Carlos.
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Her Stages Shine at Least as Bright as the Stars
Theater/ Event Cleaner
By Juan DeJesus
When Tropical Storm Irene hit the city, the floors at New World Stages experienced flooding and damaged ceiling tiles. But after Elia Perez and her determined team of custodians got their hands dirty, you could never tell.
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Loyal to the Field, if Not the Team
Stadium Cleaner of the Year
By Max Sarinsky
For many New Yorkers, free tickets to Mets games would be a pretty good job perk. But for Christian Yarborough, one of the groundskeepers at Citi Field, the job isn’t about the perks.
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