news analysis - unionisation of the doormen
WORKERS, MAY 2005 ISSUE
There is chaos in the security sector — and it is all down to government policy on door supervisors. But the workers in the sector are organising themselves.
The Federation of Door Supervisors and Security (FEDS) is a union that now has 13,000 members. Its aim is to promote professionalism and good practice, and it provides advice and protection for its members. If a member is arrested on a work-related matter, specialist solicitors and QCs are made available. FEDS is continuing its campaign over how licensing of door staff is implemented. This has become a requirement as a result of the Private Security Industry Act 2001.
Deadline
There are 85,000 staff nationwide and most still have to register despite a deadline of April 2005. Up to now fewer than 20,000 licences have been issued and applications are taking three to five months to process.
Andy Walker, chief executive of the Federation was recently reported in the magazine Big Issue as estimating that "72,000 door supervisors will have to... work illegally or the vast majority of pubs and clubs will have to do without security staff".
One common reason for being refused a licence is having had a criminal record. However, this rule is being applied too stringently and people with minor offences committed many years before are being refused licences, and thus being denied a livelihood. FEDS pointed out that even the Director of Public Prosecutions, Ken McDonald QC, had had a conviction for possession of cannabis with intent to supply.
The union has criticised the lack of proper appeals procedures based on "relevance, seriousness or recency of any offence". The Security Industry Authority (SIA) will only carry out appeals based on documentation rather than verbal statements from the individuals concerned.