News

For Immediate Release

April 11, 2007

Cloud Hangs over Company's Bid for South Africa World Cup Security Contracts

EIGHT African unions whose members include security workers employed by the largest multinational corporation in Africa, Group 4 Securicor, will meet with a delegation of trade union leaders, academics, human rights attorneys from the UK, US and Europe that's investigating worker rights abuses at the security company.

The meeting, organized by UNI-Africa, will take place on April 16, 2007, in Johannesburg.

"The security industry is now the biggest creator of jobs on the African continent. We can't have a company leading the industry that’s hostile to creating jobs that allow workers to rise out of poverty," said Fackson Shameda. "Should a company like Group 4 Securicor play a leading role in what will be the biggest sporting event ever on African soil-- the South Africa World Cup?"

Unions attending the Johannesburg gathering include the Malawi Textile, Garment and Allied Workers Union, SINTAVESP of Mozambique, Kenya Union of Commercial Food and Allied Workers, Hotel, Food, Service and Commercial Workers of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Commercial and Service Sector Workers of Cameroon, South Africa Allied and Transport Workers Union, Zambia Union of Security Officers and Allied Workers, Uganda Amalgamated Transport and General Workers Union.

In addition to meeting with African unions, the delegation will meet with workers employed by Group 4 Securicor, government officials, clients of the security firm, as well as Group 4 Securicor officials. In addition to South Africa, the delegation will travel to Mozambique and Malawi.

The delegation's visit to Southern Africa was prompted by several incidents:

* A case referred to South Africa Commission for Conciliation Mediation and Arbitration in which workers allege that Group 4 Securicor managers at the airport in Johannesburg refer to guards as "kaffirs" and "baboons"

*A professor investigating conditions in Malawi reported that guards there aren't properly compensated for their overtime hours, despite basic pay of only US $23 a month

* Police broke up a rally in Mozambique called to protest the company's failure to pay back wages owed to guards

A list of delegates follows:

UNI Africa, Fackson Shameda, War on Want, Jackie Simpkins, International Centre for Trade Union Rights, Ijeoma Omambala

London School of Economics Professor John Logan, Transport and General Workers Union, Dave Ritchie, Ver di, Peter Bremme, Service Employees International Union, Gerry Hudson, Bill Ragen, human rights attorney Ashwini Sukthankar and UNI Property Services Global Union, Christy Hoffman.

Background on Group 4 Securicor Group 4 Securicor employs more than 82,000 workers in 18 African nations. It's not only large but it's also growing. Only weeks ago, it announced it had purchased a security firm in Mozambique.

The company provides an array of services to multinationals operating on the continent including banks, oil and gas companies, mining operations as well as international organizations and embassies. The wealth gap has created a market for the firm's security services in residential neighborhoods in major African cities. For example, Group 4 Securicor guards patrol gated communities in Johannesburg.

For more information, visit http://www.union-network.org/uniafrican.nsf/Index?OpenPage