Job Centre security guards start strike action

JOB centre security guards across the North West, including Warrington, will start strike action from today, Monday.

Workers, employed by G4S, are in dispute over a below-inflation pay offer, meaning nearly 70 per cent of the security guards are now only paid the minimum wage.

Picket lines across the North West will be attended from 8 am to 12 noon today.

Meanwhile, GMB has revealed the company has trousered £50 million of taxpayer cash since the dispute began.
G4S, who have the Government contract to provide security for job centres, was handed £211 million by the Department for Work and Pensions since Dec 2022.
Guarding payments – essentially the company’s employment costs – during the same period total £161 million. Even with £3.5 million of ‘additional payments’ – this is a difference of almost £50 million.

Eamon O’Hearn, GMB National Officer, said: “Job Centre security guards are eking out a living on just above the minimum wage, despite facing horrific violence and abuse while on the job.
“Yet now we can see their employer G4S is scooping a tidy amount of taxpayer cash by paying them so badly.
“G4S can afford to pay these workers what they deserve – unless they do they are going to face a prolonged period of industrial action.”