From 17 June, G4S security guards in Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) offices, such as Jobcentres, went on strike for seven days. Over 1,000 guards in the GMB union had already been on strike; now, GMB guards are joined by over 200 guards in PCS union.
The workers are due to take further action on 4 July, polling day.
Martin Reynolds interviewed strikers at Walthamstow Jobcentre:
Chris said: “We want decent pay. We can’t afford rent, food, we’re really struggling. Our last pay rise was a couple of years ago and then a couple of years before that, we didn’t get any pay rise. Since we were taken over by G4S we’ve got less and less and less and now we’re on the minimum wage.
“G4S has made some really stupid offers, saying they’ve got no money in the pot, but they made a profit of millions of pounds.”
As Tony was speaking to us, the fire alarm in the Jobcentre started going off. As Tony says: “We’re not sure what is going on. They’ve got some incompetent security officers in there and by legal rights, they’re supposed to evacuate the building once the fire alarm goes off. If G4S needs us back in, they need to come back to the negotiating table, make us a better offer and we’ll be more than willing to come back and do our job, and switch the fire alarm off.”
And PCS rep Marissa said: “I’ve worked for G4S for nearly 20 years and they have declined in their service a lot. Not only with the DWP pay offer. But for us as employees in general.
“This is my first time on strike and we are prepared to continue for further weeks if there is no negotiation.”
