The agreement will drive improvements in employment standards across the global security industry while at the same time helping to ensure that employee and union rights are respected throughout the company.
The agreement takes into account G4S’s somewhat unique geographic footprint, and is fully expected to play an important role in raising standards across the developing markets in Africa, Asia, the Middle East and South America (which account for over two thirds of the Group’s 570,000 employees).
Global multinationals such as G4S have a critical role to play in raising standards for workers and their families in these markets where G4S is often the industry leader. The agreement aims to drive through improvements in industry standards, employment conditions and wages, and have a positive effect not only on the company’s employees but on their families and the communities in which they live and work.
Cross-border policies and responsibilities
It also recognises that a company’s social and ethical responsibility should cross borders, and will help G4S to ensure that its ethical policies relating to employment are fully implemented. The agreement provides a process and a Forum for continuous improvement and resolution of concerns, and makes it abundantly clear that employees have the right to organise unions in a free and fair atmosphere.
G4S is the second largest private sector employer in the world. The Group’s international expansion in recent years in tandem with the mix of labour practices prevailing in some developing markets means that a global approach to labour relations is appropriate in order to ensure consistency in union and employee relations.
Discussions with the GMB and UNI over the past year have resulted in an agreement which protects the needs of G4S’ employees, customers and shareholders alike.
Jenni Myles – director of employee engagement and Human Resources at G4S plc – told SMT Online: “As a market leader with a major exposure to developing markets, we’re in a strong position to help improve employment standards across the security industry. G4S has a long history of building positive relationships with employees and their representatives. Our relationship with the GMB in the UK, for example, has been in place for more than 40 years. For a number of years now we’ve been considering whether an agreement with UNI is appropriate, and began serious discussions with the assistance of the GMB Trade Union back in 2007.”
Myles continued: “Our ethical standards have always been high, and we have demonstrated that these standards apply, in practice as well as principle, everywhere that we operate. We take our responsibilities as a global leader very seriously, and our new partnership with UNI is designed to support the raising of employment standards to even higher levels. With UNI’s help, we believe we can improve standards not just in G4S but in the wider business community.”
The HR specialist is also a firm believer in the fact that the company’s employees, customers and investors will see the value in this global partnership, and that there’s now a real opportunity to work together with UNI for the benefit of all Stakeholders.”
View from the unions
Speaking to SMT Online about this new agreement, Philip Jennings – general secretary of UNI – added: “We welcome this agreement as a first for a British employer in the services sector. A global company working with a global union is the way forward for a sustainable business model. Global agreements are an integral part of a genuine Corporate Social Responsibility policy, and will enable us to grow together.
Jennings added: “This agreement represents an opportunity for progress for the many thousands of workers who want to improve their lives through building partnerships, and is intended to raise standards across the many markets where G4S operates.”
Paul Kenny – the general secretary of the GMB Trade Union – added: “We’re pleased that we have been able to assist in facilitating a meaningful dialogue between G4S and UNI. It’s good news for G4S employees all over the world. Our experience of working with G4S has always been constructive and we know that, together, we’ll drive up standards across the industry and deliver benefits to the G4S international workforce.”
Everything you need to know about UNI….
UNI is the global union for skills and services with 20 million members in 900 unions across 140 countries. UNI Property Services brings together national unions around the globe working together to improve the lives of workers who clean, secure and maintain buildings and grounds.
These national unions have over 600,000 members in these sectors and represent many thousands more.
…and the GMB Trade Union
With over 600,000 members, the GMB is one of the largest independent Trade Unions in the UK. It has a significant membership in the security industry, and holds recognition agreements with several large global companies within the sector.
The GMB prides itself on having meaningful dialogue and cross-border relationships with unions from all over the world.
