Collective bargaining may start off promisingly but eventually lead to disagreements and conflict
When any collective agreement moves closer to its deadline, management often pays a lot of attention to details of the contract such as which benefits the union will consider non-negotiable, delivery of raw materials to continue production, requirements for replacement workers, and how to move product in and out of a struck plant.
But often security is the last thing on management’s priority list. As a result, plant security upgrades are not instituted until the actual strike deadline is looming and significant windows of opportunity are lost for serious remedies.
An important first step is to obtain an impartial third-party review of the plant’s security program. Consultants with significant strike experience should be hired to review all aspects of site physical and procedural security.
Access points
The consultant’s first step is to identify the legal status of the plant’s main road as this impacts the requirement for police intervention (to keep the flow of traffic moving) and helps determine traffic management plans.
It is also important to remember that most police services consider strikes to be civil matters and need to remain impartial while maintaining peace and order.
The next step should be an examination of all vehicle entrances to the property. The auditor will make a determination on keeping entrances open or closed based on several factors: access control equipment, the security gatehouse, general location and video surveillance coverage. There may be a need to add an additional vehicle entrance/exit separating non-strikers and trucks coming in and out of the plant.
Video surveillance cameras in these areas will assist in identifying vandalism, acts of violence and monitoring traffic flow which can all aid in decision-making at critical times. Monitored video systems allow the operators to record and alert security and management of any breaches or suspicious activities and dispatch the necessary resources.
The consultants may also locate potential opportunities to increase access to the property for non-strikers. A fenced parking lot, for example, that borders another business may provide gate access. Some companies may be glad to assist while others — particularly those with strong unions whose employees may see this as “strike breaking” — may not agree to it.
Any informal or ungated pedestrian pathways should be addressed during perimeter tours. While repairing a fence may appear to be the best option, installing a gate and lock could make more tactical sense. This entrance may provide non-strikers with emergency access to the property and help disperse pickets.
There may also be an opportunity to deploy an ecologically friendly fence line supplement by planting species of “hostile” vegetation adjacent to the fence.
Surveillance considerations
Where it can be reasonably expected that strikers will attempt to climb the fence, consider using motion-activated video surveillance cameras to monitor the fence line. These cameras should also be connected to a large pop-up or bump monitor in any security office or gatehouse that is staffed 24-7.
During pre-strike preparations, ensure that a nighttime review of all lighting is conducted and that any points of entry, outdoor control panels, product intakes and ungated exterior stairs to the roof are well lit.
Auditors will also review intakes generator fuel, liquid raw materials, holding tanks for the presence of suitable metal caps with padlocks to ensure their integrity.
Access control system
Another area of pre-strike preparation that is often overlooked until the last second is the management of the access control system. Often only one person administers the access control system at a site and typically a current inventory of fobs or access cards is not available because rules have become lax around the issuance of the fobs or cards and made them more difficult to track.
When a strike deadline is looming, an inventory must be conducted and any access card or FOB that cannot be verified against a current payroll record or an authorized contractor’s list should be deleted.
One sensible way of managing the access control system data base is the use of access control software that has the inactive card management feature. For example, access to a particular building or plant can be removed from the cards or FOBs of all employees in a bargaining unit as soon as the collective agreement expires.
Alarm system updates
In addition, the security auditor and facilities department should address the security of all alarm systems that are monitored by off-site central stations. This includes the fire alarm system, any sprinkler systems and any intrusion systems monitoring sensitive areas such as finished product storage areas or tool rooms.
The management team must also confirm the most recent date that each system provider had service personnel confirm that every device in every zone is communicating to its on-site control panel. Rule of thumb: if 60 days have passed since the last review, it must be conducted right away.
The next step is for management to arrange for each systems provider to confirm that all fire and intrusion systems are communicating with their central station shortly before the labour disruption starts. Each system provider must also be requested to confirm all systems have at least two of the following methods of communicating with their central station: land-line phone dialer, cellular communicator and wireless internet.
The auditor will also recommend the changing of all alarm pass codes on the last working day of the strike. New pass codes should only be held by management or trusted non-striking workers.
Hospitality considerations
In some trucking companies, striking employees have been allowed on site to use washrooms. A more suitable solution during striking times is to show compassion and provide for two or more sets of Port-a-Potties with portable sinks for handwashing, ideally set up across the street from the struck building if the union has no provisions made.
When a strike deadline is looming, any access card or FOB that cannot be verified against a current payroll record or an authorized contractor’s list should be deleted.
Naturally, the operators of any on-site cafeteria, food court or restaurants are going to pressure management to allow the strikers back on site while the strike is ongoing. Given the potential for very real financial losses, this is not unexpected.
However, the concern with this is the same as for washroom access — increased potential for management and disgruntled strikers to encounter each other. Ideally, strikers should only be allowed back on site to visit human resources and they should always be escorted while they are on site.
An experienced residential security consultant may also be contracted to conduct security reviews of executives who are the focus of the union. Items to be addressed include routine mobile patrols, landscaping or sight lines from the street, large civic address numbers to make it easy for first responders to find the home, lighting, intrusion alarm with mobile response, better locks and doors where required.
Strikes will always be a stressful time for all parties involved. However, a professional security consultant with suitable training and experience can help reduce some of the associated stress while reducing risk to company assets, allowing for a quick facility, plant or warehouse resumption of production at the conclusion of the strike.
Mike Fenton is a regional security consultant at GardaWorld in Toronto. He can be reached at [email protected].
