Court security officers balloting for strike action over poverty pay
PCS members employed by private contractor OCS are being reballoted for industrial action, which could close courts across England and Wales.
PCS today (31 July) notified OCS that security officers working in 144 courts across England and Wales will be balloted for industrial action over pay and other issues.
The ballot opens on Monday, 7 August and closes at 12 noon on Thursday, 31 August 2023.
Members had voted in a recent ballot. However, due to a legal challenge from OCS, it is necessary to re-ballot members.
We view this challenge from OCS as a blatant attempt to stop PCS members taking action in their fight for better pay, terms and conditions.
Current pay rates on the contract are unacceptable and the proposed pay offer for all members is insulting.
PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka said:
"It is scandalous that many of our members working for OCS are the recipients of poverty pay. Security officers have recently been offered a pay rise by OCS that is just 38p an hour above the national minimum wage.
"To add insult to injury, OCS has fought tooth and nail to prevent these ballots from taking place in the first place.
"However, our members will not be cowed and will continue to fight until each and every one of our demands are met, including a reasonable pay offer that genuinely addresses poverty pay across all levels of the security contract."