Canadian HR Reporter

F E A T U R E S 26 www.hrreporter.com SECURITY PLANNING FOR LABOUR STRIKES Collective bargaining may start off promisingly but eventually lead to disagreements and conflict. Should a strike hit, employers will want to be ready by preparing well in advance on the security front, says Mike Fenton of GardaWorld 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-ne- gotiable, 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 insti- tuted until the actual strike deadline is looming and significant windows of opportunity are lost for serious reme- dies. 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 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 STRIKES SLOW DOWN IN 2020 IN CANADA 66 Number of work stoppages in 2020, compared to 128 in 2019 44.5 Average duration in days in 2020, compared to 33.2 in 2019 624,028 Number of employees involved in 2020, compared to 46,249 in 2019 1,451,556 Number of person days not worked in 2020, compared to 305,677 in 2019 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 gate- house 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 Source: Statistics Canada L A B O U R R E L AT I O N S

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