Workers Protest Prosegur's Systematic Violation of Human Rights
128 union leaders, activists and community allies peacefully protested in front of the main office of Prosegur Colombia to demand fair treatment, compliance with international labor standards and Colombian labor and criminal laws.
At the end of the rally, a delegation comprised of Fidel Hugo Alfonso, President of SINTRAVALORES, Adriana Rosenzvaig, Regional Secretary for UNI Americas, Christy Hoffman, UNI Deputy General Secretary, Alice Dale, Head of Department for UNI Property Services and Marvin Largaespada, UNI Americas Property Services Organiser then entered the lobby of the office and requested a meeting with Yago Palao, the Prosegur country manager to present a 5-page petition signed by UNI affiliates from across the Americas. The delegation was told that Mr. Palao was in a meeting and unavailable to meet.
UNI Global Union filed an ILO complaint against Prosegur in October 2012, based on its mass dismissal of 327 workers in Paraguay who engaged in a lawful strike. UNI filed an OECD complaint against Prosegur in November 2013, based on a series of human rights and labor violations in Colombia, Peru, Paraguay and Brazil. UNI filed an Addendum to this complaint in February 2014, based on an illegal pacto colectivo that the company introduced on December 31, 2013.
These legal actions challenge unlawful harassment of union leaders and activists, retaliation for union activity, undermining collective bargaining, failing to cooperate with government officials charged with investigating labor law violations and failure to implement court orders which has sided in favor of workers concerning such actions.
In addition to Yago Palao's unavailability, the Prosegur Human Resources Director was not available, in fact, no manager was available to receive the petition. The Secretary for the HR Director, however, did meet the delegation in the lobby to receive the petition. The exchange was polite and without controversy but the issues remain unresolved and the lack of any dialogue with the company and UNI over these issues continues.
Prosegur is the 3rd largest private security firm in the world, and arguably, the fastest growing. UNI has called on Prosegur to join the ranks of private security firms that help raise standards and quality services in this industry, along with their international peers who have signed Global Agreements with UNI. Instead, Prosegur leads the "race to the bottom," among the transnational companies in this field, capitalizing on their ability to undercut international and market standards.