Strike Management Services

After years of decline, work stoppages and its associated liability climbed significantly last year.

Few business dealings evoke the raw emotion that labor disputes do and incurring business interruption, financial losses, employee injuries, property damage, sabotage, and subsequent civil litigation can devastate any company.

The ability to maintain productive business operations during a work stoppage is directly related to proper contingency planning and management. If a company neglects certain preparation details, not only can it incur significant business interruption and can also find itself on the wrong end of a damage award, paying the price for the violent misconduct of employees.

AISC provides companies vulnerable to high-pressure union tactics with the security measures necessary to maintain stability throughout this potentially volatile period.

Our Strike Management services include:

Pre-Strike Consulting & Contingency Planning

AISC assists you with formulation of a security management plan in order to ensure facility access, work force safety, chain of command and criminal complaint policy.

Strike Security Management

AISC has the ability to mobilize immediately and effectively implement a comprehensive security management plan.

Strike Activity Documentation

A critical element of proper strike management is photo-documentation of illegal activities. Our ability to document strike activities can be utilized to support criminal charges, to seek injunctive relief from the courts and to support the company’s position in subsequent civil proceedings.
Recent decisions demonstrate that the courts are inclined to grant hefty damage awards to the victims of strike violence. If a company has thoroughly documented strike activity, it can make the case that the union is liable for the actions of its members walking the picket line.

Case Study - JIT Distibution Firm

A major chemical supply distribution firm with locations throughout the United States had pioneered the use of Just-In-Time (JIT) delivery innovations to gain a dominant share of its business segment. It was imperative to the company’s competitive strategy to avoid delivery interruptions.

However, labor strife plagued a key distribution center for years and when the company was unable to negotiate a new contract with the union, it prepared for a strike. They contacted customers, identified replacement workers, and reviewed safety procedures. Unfortunately, they hired a security firm with limited strike management experience.

After negotiations broke down and the labor contract expired without an agreement, a strike ensued. Within 24 hours, the strikers grew violent and harassed and threatened company personnel. The security firm was overwhelmed and could not control the picket lines. Violence threatened to close the facility along with the ability of the company to properly supply its customers. Faced with significant business interruption, the company turned to AISC.

Outcome

AISC conceived and implemented a new strike security plan and restored order within 24 hours. Under AISC’s supervision, the distribution firm was able to safely transport workers and goods across the picket lines. It successfully maintained its operations for the duration of the strike, which lasted for more than one year.