Court security guards to strike across England and Wales
PCS members working for OCS as some of their worst-paid employees have voted to strike, severely impacting courts’ ability to open.
About 500 PCS members working for OCS as security staff on the HM Courts & Tribunals Service estate have rejected a pay offer and resolved to strike with an overwhelming 90%.
The latest pay offer tabled by OCS would give security guards a mere 38p per hour above the minimum wage, even though OCS is an accredited Real Living Wage employer. The strike will affect 144 courts across England and Wales and will demonstrate the real value of hard-working, dedicated staff.
Mark Serwotka, PCS General Secretary, says:
“What is absolutely shocking is the determination of a private, profit-making company to refuse decent wages in a public sector contract. Court security staff are incredibly committed, incredibly hard-working and incredibly hard done by. On top of that, this government’s heedless mismanagement of the economy has created a genuine crisis in public sector pay. We demand OCS return to the table and give our members the pay and professional respect they so rightly deserve.”
A recent cost-of-living survey of PCS members at OCS found that:
- 62% have missed a monthly payment for an essential bill during the past 12 months.
- 88% told us they were experiencing one or more type of financial hardship.
- Almost 90% said they had worked while sick because they couldn’t afford to take time off sick.
PCS union representative Martyn Warner says:
“OCS continues to offer below-inflation pay rises and our hard-working members deserve better. We keep everybody safe in courts. But our pay doesn’t reflect the work we do. This result proves our members’ great unity and strength. It sends OCS the message that enough is enough.”
The timing and duration of the strike is yet to be determined but will be announced soon.