News

Today is World Day for Decent Work—a day when all trade unions in the world stand up for decent work. Decent work must be at the centre of government and multi-national corporate actions to bring back eco­nomic growth and build a new global economy that puts people first. More information on WDDW can be found at www.wddw.org



UNI Global Union has been calling on Prosegur, a Spanish-based security company operating in 13 countries around the world, to enter into a Global Labour Agreement. This would guarantee freedom of association for the purpose of raising standards for all workers in the company, regardless of where they work. UNI has been talking with Prosegur workers and unions in Europe and Latin America. These are examples of the problems workers have brought to UNI:

• Security Guards are required to work 10-15 hour shifts and to stand dur­ing their entire shift (Brazil)

• Many Security Guards have no access to toilet facilities or drinking water, and women are denied equal access to jobs that involve using fire­arms (Chile)

• Security Guards in Colombia are denied freedom of association — the right to freely join the union (Colombia)

• Security Guards have not been provided with bullet-proof vests they have requested due to cost (France)

• Security Guards are exposed to dangerous levels of radiation at se­curity checks at airports and have high rates of illnesses that they fear are related to this exposure; many security guards have nowhere to eat during their break periods other than dirty public toilet rooms (Portugal)

• Security Guards are required to work without shelter, without toilets, electricity and enough equipment to defend themselves; they suffer harassment by management and they are not paid for all hours worked (Uruguay)



This is only a small list of the many serious problems that have been raised with UNI Global Union. We call on Prosegur to:



• Comply with international-recognised labour standards and to solve these problems

• Establish a global dialogue over workplace issues and signing a Global Agreement with UNI

• Provide their security guards everywhere with DECENT WORK



Alice Dale, Head of UNI Property Services said "Decent Work Day ia an important opportunity for workers to stand up and demand fair treatment on-the-job. We stand with the men and women of Prosegur who struggle every day for decent work."



UNI affiliates are campaigning today for these points. Join the Prosegur campaign by contacting your union or Nigel Venes UNI Organiser at nigel.venes@uniglobalunion.org