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Join a Security Guard Union in
VIRGINIA & WEST VIRGINIA

If your looking to join a Security Guard Union in the States of Virginia & West Virginia please fill out the join a security guard union form below and a United Federation LEOS-PBA security guard union representative will be in contact with you shortly.

Sec. 7. [§ 157.] Employees shall have the right to self-organization, to form, join, or assist labor organizations, to bargain collectively through representatives of their own choosing, and to engage in other concerted activities for the purpose of collective bargaining or other mutual aid or protection, and shall also have the right to refrain from any or all of such activities except to the extent that such right may be affected by an agreement requiring membership in a labor organization as a condition of employment as authorized in section 8(a)(3) [section 158(a)(3) of this title].

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Employee Rights

Employees covered by the National Labor Relations Act are afforded certain rights to join together to improve their wages and working conditions, with or without a union.

Union Activity

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Employees have the right to attempt to form a union where none currently exists, or to decertify a union that has lost the support of employees.

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Examples of employee rights include:

  • Forming, or attempting to form, a union in your workplace;

  • Joining a union whether the union is recognized by your employer or not;

  • Assisting a union in organizing your fellow employees;

  • Refusing to do any or all of these things.

  • To be fairly represented by a union

 

Activity Outside a Union

Employees who are not represented by a union also have rights under the NLRA.  Specifically, the National Labor Relations Board protects the rights of employees to engage in “concerted activity”,  which is when two or more employees take action for their mutual aid or protection regarding terms and conditions of employment.  A single employee may also engage in protected concerted activity if he or she is acting on the authority of other employees, bringing group complaints to the employer’s attention, trying to induce group action, or seeking to prepare for group action.

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A few examples of protected concerted activities are:

  • Two or more employees addressing their employer about improving their pay.

  • Two or more employees discussing work-related issues beyond pay, such as safety concerns, with each other.

  • An employee speaking to an employer on behalf of one or more co-workers about improving workplace conditions.

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Who is covered?

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Most employees in the private sector are covered by the NLRA. However, the Act specifically excludes individuals who are:

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  • employed by Federal, state, or local government

  • employed as agricultural laborers

  • employed in the domestic service of any person or family in a home

  • employed by a parent or spouse

  • employed as an independent contractor

  • employed as a supervisor (supervisors who have been discriminated against for refusing to violate the NLRA may be covered)

  • employed by an employer subject to the Railway Labor Act, such as railroads and airlines

  • employed by any other person who is not an employer as defined in the NLRA

United Federation LEOS-PBA  

EMPLOYEE-RIGHTS-NLRB | United Federation LEOS-PBA
VIRGINIA UNARMED SECURITY GUARDS LICENSING REQUIREMENTS

State Security Licensing Authorities: Virginia

 
VIRGINIA UNARMED SECURITY GUARDS LICENSING REQUIREMENTS

Most states have certain requirements to work as an unarmed security guard and in the state of Virginia. The requirement for licensing in the state of Virginia is the Department of Criminal Justice Services. In order to be a obtain an unarmed security guard license, there are stipulations that must be fulfilled including the applicant’s age must be at least 18 years of age.


The regulations that oversee the unarmed security guard are Title 9.1-138 through 9.1-150 in the Private Security Services Codes of Virginia. The codes describe the qualifications for an applicant to be approved for a license, including fingerprinting, age and background checks. The description of the unarmed security guard functions is to perform observation, detection, reporting to the appropriate authorities and does not carry a firearm.


There is a prerequisite to obtain this license is that the applicant must attend an 18 hour course at a certified facility. The course will include classes in the topics that will prepare the person to work in the security sector in a professional manner.
The applicant must apply for their permanent certification card within 90 days of being hired by a security company. This permanent license will need to be renewed every two years to continue working in the security sector. There are other stipulations that must also be met in order to obtain the unarmed guard certification from the state of Virginia:

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  • The person applying for an unarmed guard must have a high school diploma or equivalency diploma.

  • They must pass a strenuous background check

  • The person applying must satisfactorily pass the required training at a certified facility.

  • The applicant must be authorized to work in the United States and provide information for the Internal Revenue.

  • Finger prints will be required

 

One of the things other than a license that might be required by a security company is that the unarmed security guard will hold a valid Virginia state drivers license. This in many cases is needed for driving company owned vehicles as a part of the duties that will be preformed for the type of security position.


Training that will be included in the certified classes will include:

  • Report writing

  • First aid and CPR certification

  • Crisis deterrence

  • Legal issues

  • Public crowd control

  • Emergency fire control

  • Property rights

  • Detention of criminals

  • Operate alarm systems

 

The professions the unarmed security guard is able to provide their trained services for are schools, malls, art galleries, and retail businesses, along with other companies that require the unarmed guards services. There are other types of employment opportunity for the unarmed security guard in more private settings where being armed is not a requirement. The unarmed security guard license does not permit the carrying of firearms and the certified training does not include firearm training.


The training prepares the person to handle the situations that could arise during employment as a Virginia unarmed security guard, which must be handled in a professional manner with the least amount of disturbance to the business the security guard, is protecting.

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State Licensing Application

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WEST VIRGINIA UNARMED SECURITY GUARDS LICENSING REQUIREMENTS

State Security Licensing Authorities: West Virginia

 

Eligibility Requirements for Licensing

Basic Requirements for All Licensees

Regardless of whether you intend to apply for an individual or firm license, as a private investigator or security guard, there nine basic requirements which apply to all applicants. For a firm, these basic requirements apply to all officers, member or partners, and all employees who will conduct business.

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  1. Be at least 18 years old or older.

  2. Be a citizen of the United States, or an alien legally residing in the United States.

  3. Be of good moral character.

  4. Have not had a previous private investigator or security guard license revoked or denied in West Virginia or any other state.

  5. Have not been declared incompetent by a court because of a mental defect or illness.

  6. Do not suffer from narcotics addiction or dependence or habitual drunkenness.

  7. Have not been convicted of a felony in this state or any other state or territory.

  8. Have not been convicted of any of these crimes:

    • Illegally using, carrying or possessing a pistol or other dangerous weapon;

    • Making or possessing burglar’s instruments;

    • Buying or receiving stolen property;

    • Entering a building unlawfully;

    • Aiding an inmate’s escape from prison;

    • Possessing or distributing illicit drugs; or

    • Any misdemeanor involving moral turpitude or for which dishonesty of character is a necessary element.

  9. Have never:

    • Engaged in the private investigation or security guard business without a license;

    • Transferred my license to an unlicensed person or subcontracted with an unlicensed person or firm to conduct investigations or security guard business;

    • Employed anyone to conduct investigations or security guard business who was in violation of any of the prohibitions or requirements of law;

    • Falsely represented that I am or any other person is licensed as an investigator or guard;

    • Made any false report with respect to any matter relating to my employment;

    • Divulged any information obtained from or for a client without express permission;

    • Knowingly accepted employment to obtain information intended for illegal purposes; or

    • Authorized another person to violate the law or rules.

 

Select the type of license you are seeking and review the eligibility requirements for that particular license:

 

Private Investigator & Security Guard Licensing

Any person or group of people who perform investigative or security guard functions in West Virginia are required to be licensed, unless one of the exemptions specified by law applies.

To understand whether licensing requirements apply, see exemptions under each license type.

Several types of licenses are issued, and the requirements are slightly different for each one.

To report problems related to either Private Investigators or Security Guards, please use the Complaint Form.

 

Private Investigator Licensing

 

Security Guard Licensing

 

Combined Licensing

 

Forms

 

Current Licensees

  • Search licensees by selecting the license type for private investigators or security guards.

  • Search the WV Code Chapter 30 Article 18.

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Join a Security Guard Union in
VIRGINIA & WEST VIRGINIA

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