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| Labour conference could be cancelled in security row, says GMB | Labour conference could be cancelled in security row, says GMB |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Labour's annual conference in Liverpool could be cancelled in a row over security, a trade union has claimed. | Labour's annual conference in Liverpool could be cancelled in a row over security, a trade union has claimed. |
| The GMB said the refusal by a security company to sign a union agreement was against Labour's rules. | |
| It is calling on the party to find an alternative contractor for next month's event to avoid it being "scuppered". | It is calling on the party to find an alternative contractor for next month's event to avoid it being "scuppered". |
| The company, Showsec, said it was "not anti-unions in any way" and Labour sources said they were confident the conference would go ahead as planned. | The company, Showsec, said it was "not anti-unions in any way" and Labour sources said they were confident the conference would go ahead as planned. |
| But a Labour spokesman said: "We do not comment on commercial arrangements." | But a Labour spokesman said: "We do not comment on commercial arrangements." |
| Labour's conference begins on 25 September. | Labour's conference begins on 25 September. |
| The party has rejected newspaper claims the Home Office could shut down the four-day event, at Liverpool's Arena and Conference Centre, if Labour fails to sort out its own security, with Labour sources saying the conference is a "private event". | The party has rejected newspaper claims the Home Office could shut down the four-day event, at Liverpool's Arena and Conference Centre, if Labour fails to sort out its own security, with Labour sources saying the conference is a "private event". |
| 'Clock ticking' | 'Clock ticking' |
| Labour hired Showsec after the party's National Executive Committee voted last year to boycott G4S, which has provided security at party political conferences in the UK for some years. | Labour hired Showsec after the party's National Executive Committee voted last year to boycott G4S, which has provided security at party political conferences in the UK for some years. |
| It was prompted by claims by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign that G4S was linked to "Israeli prisons which hold Palestinian political prisoners from occupied Palestinian territory inside Israel". | It was prompted by claims by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign that G4S was linked to "Israeli prisons which hold Palestinian political prisoners from occupied Palestinian territory inside Israel". |
| Three security companies are reported to have declined a contract with Labour before it appointed Showsec. | Three security companies are reported to have declined a contract with Labour before it appointed Showsec. |
| Roger Jenkins, GMB national officer for the security industry, said: "This is by no means sorted. | Roger Jenkins, GMB national officer for the security industry, said: "This is by no means sorted. |
| "We have repeatedly asked Showsec to agree to sign up to a standard recognition agreement that recognises GMB to negotiate pay and conditions, seeing its workers treated with the dignity and respect they deserve. | "We have repeatedly asked Showsec to agree to sign up to a standard recognition agreement that recognises GMB to negotiate pay and conditions, seeing its workers treated with the dignity and respect they deserve. |
| "The clock is ticking fast ahead of next month's conference and the company's continued refusal to recognise GMB is intolerable." | "The clock is ticking fast ahead of next month's conference and the company's continued refusal to recognise GMB is intolerable." |
| 'Corporate governance' | 'Corporate governance' |
| He added: "If Showsec continues to show such disregard for unions then it has proven itself totally unsuited to the task of providing security for this event - and the Labour Party leadership must immediately put an alternative in place to avoid the conference being scuppered." | He added: "If Showsec continues to show such disregard for unions then it has proven itself totally unsuited to the task of providing security for this event - and the Labour Party leadership must immediately put an alternative in place to avoid the conference being scuppered." |
| Mr Jenkins also told The Guardian Labour rules stipulated that "any service provider they use have to have a recognition agreement with a trade union". | Mr Jenkins also told The Guardian Labour rules stipulated that "any service provider they use have to have a recognition agreement with a trade union". |
| In a statement, Showsec said: "We were invited to tender for the security provision at the Labour Party conference, but at no point were we advised that signing a recognition agreement with the GMB Union was a stipulation of that tender. | In a statement, Showsec said: "We were invited to tender for the security provision at the Labour Party conference, but at no point were we advised that signing a recognition agreement with the GMB Union was a stipulation of that tender. |
| "Showsec are not in a position to sign this recognition agreement due to corporate governance guidance, but contrary to some reports, we would like to make it clear that the company are not anti-unions in any way. | "Showsec are not in a position to sign this recognition agreement due to corporate governance guidance, but contrary to some reports, we would like to make it clear that the company are not anti-unions in any way. |
| "We have, in fact, had a partnership agreement in place with GMB Union since 2004, but following discussions with the union in an attempt to find a resolution, they have advised us that this is no longer fit-for-purpose. | "We have, in fact, had a partnership agreement in place with GMB Union since 2004, but following discussions with the union in an attempt to find a resolution, they have advised us that this is no longer fit-for-purpose. |
| "We are disappointed that we presently find ourselves in this position." | "We are disappointed that we presently find ourselves in this position." |