US union aims to hijack Group 4 meeting

GROUP 4 Securicor is in for a summer of discontent after US trade unionists representing American security guards published an 'alternative annual report' on the company, rubbishing its management and pledging to disrupt its annual general meeting.

In addition to threatening 'international worker action' at Group 4 Securicor's annual meeting in London next month, the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) will this week publish Giving the World and Investors a Sense of Insecurity, a parody of the group's annual report.

In it, the union says it aims to highlight to the FTSE 100 company's British and European shareholders the 'reputational risks' the company is running in the US.

At issue is an escalating spat between the North American subsidiary Wackenhut - the second-largest security guard company in the US - and the SEIU. The union wants better representation and terms and conditions for thousands of American security guards. It claims, however, that rather than co-operate, Wackenhut has been intimidating workers.

It says Wackenhut has refused to talk to the union and has issued legal proceedings against it. As a result, the SEIU has aggravated the group by circulating negative publicity about Wackenhut, including reports of breaches of security at US nuclear installations it guards.

SEIU director Stephen Lerner said: 'The group's approach to labour relations outside its European comfort zone should be a major concern to investors. Wackenhut does not adequately invest in its people and is pushing down industry standards.

'This is terrifying in a post-9/11 world. Private security officers are on the frontline in the case of emergency, accident or terrorism. In the fiercely competitive global market, Group 4 Securicor can ill afford a reputation as a company unwilling to invest in its people.'

Critics of the SEIU say it is waging a campaign against Group 4 Securicor because it believes guarding of US installations should be done by US firms.

A Group 4 Securicor spokesman said SEIU representatives were welcome at the annual meeting and to raise questions if they are shareholders. Of the campaign against Wackenhut, the spokesman said: 'It has been a distraction for management but has not prevented the business from growing as fast as it has.'