PCS strikes: 1pm on 8 November to 11.59pm on 10 November and 1pm to 11:59pm on 11 November

PCS strikes from 1pm on 18 October 2024 to 11:59pm on 20 October, 1pm to 11.59pm on 21 October, from 1pm on 25 October to 11:59pm on 27th, 1pm to 11:59pm on 28 October and 1pm on 1 November to 11:59pm on 3 November, 1pm to 11:59pm on 4 November,

The PCS members, employed by G4S as security guards in jobcentres, recently voted overwhelmingly to reject the pay offer made by G4S and to take further strike action.

The pay offer made was just 32p per hour above the national living wage. Members voted by 84% to reject the pay offer and by 89% for more strike action.

The workers have already taken 41 days’ strike action in their dispute, resulting in jobcentres being closed and a reduced service being offered in others.

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Further strike action planned by GMB for a full week of strikes against G4S Secure Solutions (UK) Limited

• Monday 29th July to midnight Sunday 4th August

pickets 8:30-10:30am outside Molineux House Job Centre, Temple St, Wolverhampton WV2 4AU (opp. new market), also at
– Bridle Court, Walsall also Erdington, Birmingham, Coventry and Stoke-on-Trent.

followed a week later by another full week strike, repeating that pattern until dignity, respect and decent pay are achieved. The GMB dispute is over a G4S below-inflation pay offer, meaning nearly 70 per cent of the security guards, are now only paid the minimum wage.

• Week of strikes from 00.00(am) on Monday 29th July to 23.59 on Sunday 4th August

GMB are still pushing to meet at ACAS with DWP too, in order to resolve this dispute.

all day strikes action was taken on 7th, 8th, 13th May, 20 May, 28 May and  29 May 2024.

• Week of strikes from 00.00(am) on Monday 17th June to 23.59 on Sunday 23rd June 2024
• Week of strikes from 00.00(am) on Monday 1st July to 23.59 on Sunday 7th July
• Week of strikes from 00.00(am) on Monday 15th July to 23.59 on Sunday 21st July

94% yes vote in strike ballot

For full info see https://www.gmb.org.uk/private-sector/security-services/g4s-dwp-noticeboard and https://www.gmb.org.uk/news/more-than-1,000-job-centre-security-guards-to-strike

Report in Express and Star https://www.expressandstar.com/news/2024/05/09/i-have-been-physically-and-racially-abused-keeping-job-centre-staff-safe-g4s-security-employees-fed-up-with-low-pay-and-will-strike-until-they-get-an-increase/

In October 2022 G4S described their pay offer as “disappointing” and actually sought additional funds from the DWP, however when that was rejected, the Company began to describe the offer as ‘great’.

Since then almost nothing has changed, with the Company refusing to contribute any meaningful additional funds to secure a settlement, and instead constantly using virtually the same pot of money in different ways.

Both DWP and G4S now need to come back to the table with a proper offer that addresses the cost of living crisis that members experienced and was acknowledged at the start of the talks, and this must involve additional funds.