News

The Alliance for Justice at G4S met today in Berlin, just a few days after the release of the company's financial results for 2007.



G4S reported growth in its "new markets" at more than double the pace of growth in Europe and the US. The company also gave notice that it is looking to sell its guarding operations in France and Germany. G4S' profit margins in "new markets", or the lesser developed economies of Asia, Latin America and Africa, are 20% to 25% higher than its margins elsewhere. These margins are achievable in lesser developed economies where the right to organise is refused, where workers are not paid for overtime work, where wages do not meet the cost of living and where basic entitlements and amenities are denied. G4S' plan to sell off its western European business indicates the company's preference for doing business under conditions where it can capitalise on the mistreatment of workers.



The G4Alliance members today renewed their commitment to the campaign for a global agreement with the company. The need for this agreement becomes more and more pressing as the company's power grows, especially in Africa, where G4S is the largest private employer with nearly 100,000 workers in around 20 countries.



The G4Alliance campaign begins in 2008 on the back of a number of successes during 2007, including union recognition in Malawi, severance pay for sacked strikers in Panama and organising rights for workers in Poland. Despite these achievements though, there remain many injustices to resolve for G4S workers around the globe. In Malawi, workers remain in extreme poverty, although required to work 12 hours per day, 6 days per week, some going for weeks, even months, at a time without a day off. In the United States, Wackenhut still refuses to recognise the largest property services union in the country. In Morocco, 200 workers were fired in late 2007 for taking strike action.



During 2008, the G4Alliance will continue its strategies to educate and engage members about conditions around the world, engage with G4S investors, and promote responsible contracting with G4S clients. It will also broaden organising efforts in Africa and Asia and pursue legal remedies for G4S workers in various countries at the national and international level.