Crisis Management Services

PLE Security & Investigations: Solutions for Unique Security Problems

Plant closures and downsizing, as well as contract negotiations and terminations present unique security problems for corporations. These common corporate activities may result in retaliation by a company's employees. It is these times when companies are most vulnerable to internal acts which could cripple a corporation's ability to conduct business. These acts include:

Product tampering
Theft
Threats against executives and their families
Sabotage to equipment and facilities
Bomb threats
Other acts intended to disrupt or cripple company operations

Primary services offered by PLE Security & Investigations include: Strike Security; Plant Closure and Downsizing Security; High Risk Termination Security; Executive Protection; and the development of crisis contingency plans.

PLE Security & Investigations' Unique Approach

On Site Survey or Electronic, On-Line Survey
Experience
Professionalism
Non-confrontational Approach
Credibility
Evidence
Advanced Equipment
Real Time Updates of Activities

Why PLE Security & Investigations?

When choosing a company to provide labor dispute security services the following questions should be asked:

1) How long has the company provided strike security services? The PLE Security & Investigations has provided expert strike security services since 1984 to a variety of companies and industries throughout the United States. Additionally, we have provided as many as 300 security specialists to three separate locations in two states for a single client. Although this is not a typical situation, it does demonstrate the manpower and logistic capabilities of the PLE Security & Investigations.

2) What appearance and impression does the security force provide to both striking and non-striking workers? While on-site, our personnel wear non-confrontational uniforms consisting of golf shirts and slacks and do not carry any weapons. Our non-confrontational approach eases the tension on the picket line, is less intimidating to those employees who have to cross the picket line to come to work. Additionally, law enforcement personnel prefer this approach rather than the paramilitary approached used by many of our competitors.

3) What type of equipment does the security company have to document illegal picket activities and collect photographic evidence? Select PLE Security & Investigations security specialists are outfitted with Sony, 990x digital zoom cameras equipped with infrared capabilities. The infrared equipped video cameras allow for identification quality video in extremely low light conditions. Additionally, a comprehensive database of all incident reports is maintained, with the hard copy incident reports cataloged and cross-referenced to videotape, photographs, and physical evidence. Proper management of the evidence is a crucial in aiding your legal counsel attain favorable injunctions.

4) Do the company's employees have enough experience to handle highly tense situations that could occur during a strike, plant closure or large-scale layoff? The majority of the security specialists deployed by PLE Security & Investigations have worked multiple strikes for PLE Security & Investigations clients. Additionally, all security specialists receive training on applicable labor law requirements to include the actions that are permissible on the picket line and the actions that are considered unfair labor practices.

5) Does the company's management team fully understand the negative repercussions that could occur if its security team does something that would cause the strike to convert from an economic strike to an unfair labor practice strike? All members of PLE Security & Investigation's management team receive annual labor law training. This training includes reviewing what actions are and are not permissible by striking workers and what actions are and are not permissible by PLE Security & Investigation's security specialists.

Why not use a Standard Guard Service?

When choosing a company to provide labor dispute security services, many companies consider using a local guard company. Here are some reasons why you shouldn't use a local guard company:

1) Most guard companies and the guards themselves do not have extensive experience providing such services. If a local guard company has experience with providing strike security, typically that experience is severely limited. A lack of experience in handling such potentially violent situations unnecessarily exposes the company and its employees, vendors and contractors to potentially harmful situations.

2) An untrained, inexperienced guard could cost your company tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars in court settlements if the guard does something that would be considered an unfair labor practice. Before contracting with a local guard company, simply ask the guard company's management to explain the difference between an unfair labor practice strike and an economic strike. Furthermore, ask them if they understand the potential ramifications if one of their employees commits an act, which would be construed as an unfair labor practice.

3) The guards employed by a local guard company typically live in the same general area in which the strike is occurring. This alone posses an unnecessary risk to your company as the local guard company's employees may sympathize with the striking workers and therefore may not look after your company's best interests. Additionally, some of the guards provided by the local guard company may be related to, and therefore sympathetic with the striking workers.

4) If you are considering contracting with the company that already provides standard security guards for your company, please remember that most of the guards provided are local employees who will have to work with union employees and management after the strike is over. Knowing that once the strike is over he/she will have to continue to work with the employees that were striking, creates a conflict as the guard(s) may not want to enforce all required security precautions or document all illegal or violent actions in fear of retribution or simply the fact the guard may become disliked by the union employees that he/she has worked with in the past.

5) Finally, many security guard companies have difficulty finding enough qualified employees to staff their long-term contracts, let alone temporarily staff the security requirements necessitated by a strike. If they are able to staff the personnel requirements initially, remember that absenteeism has historically been a problem for many low-paying guard companies. Increased absenteeism equates to new guards being assigned to new posts, which decreases the quality of security provided.

Crisis Management Services is committed to safeguarding your facilities, employees, and other assets. We will minimize any security problems that affect you, your customers or your employees. Our goal is to help you maintain a safe, productive workplace.

For Information regarding PLE's Crisis Management Services, contact Craig Hoschouer at 800-288-2949, or email Info@plegroup.com