Conference doubts remain as security firm’s union stand-off continues

Worries remain over whether Labour’s annual conference can go ahead, as the party’s problems finding a security company persist after discussions broke down this week.

It was reported last week that Labour had adopted a policy of boycotting G4S, which has provided security in recent years, and that the other likeliest contractor is currently in dispute with GMB, one of the party’s largest affiliates.

A statement from GMB today confirmed that the stand-off with Showsec, a Liverpool-based security firm, is still ongoing. “This is by no means sorted,” the union said.

The dispute is understood to be about the company’s refusal to recognise a trade union for its employees. It leaves Labour without security for its conference just five weeks before it is scheduled to begin.

If no security for conference can be found, there is even the possibility that it will have to be called off – or local police or the Home Office could step in to stop it going ahead.

Roger Jenkins, GMB national officer for the security industry, said: “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.”

“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.”

Showsec has claimed that the company is “not anti-union”, and a spokesperson said they are “disappointed that we presently find ourselves in this position.”