King County security officers prepare for potential strike

SEATTLE — Nearly 5,000 security officers across King County — stationed at the airport, on public transit, and in local tech companies — are preparing for a possible strike, according to their union.

Leaders of SEIU6, the union representing the workers, warn that a strike could have serious consequences for public safety, particularly on Seattle-area transit systems.

“It’s workers that kind of go unnoticed, right? And unseen... until you need them,” said Greg Ramirez, deputy director of SEIU6.

Ramirez said officers’ responsibilities go beyond monitoring, often putting them in the position of de-escalating dangerous situations. He pointed to a deadly incident last December, when Metro bus driver Shawn Yim was fatally stabbed while on duty.

“If one of our folks would have been there...”