Public and Commercial Services Union

PCS members will be aware via branch briefings of the proposals by ESS to outsource the work of the remaining security guards employed by HMRC on 19 sites around the country. Those proposals were confirmed today (19 August) as having been approved by ministers, and the required notice has now been published in the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU).

The plan is to invite expressions of interest from organisations which can provide security services to meet HMRC’s requirements in this area, and thus potentially privatise the work of over 200 PCS members. These are thus very worrying times for those members, and the GEC has offered its full support to them.

The PCS response

PCS continues to campaign against privatisation – we believe very firmly that public sector employees, employed by HMRC, are in the best position to deliver efficient and confidential services. Indeed, the GEC finds it incredible that, barely 6 weeks after the publication of the Poynter report into the loss of confidential data by HMRC, consideration is being given to putting this work in the hands of a private company.

Nevertheless, we remain committed to protecting the interests of our security guard members, and will be discussing the outsourcing process with ESS at every stage. The GEC discussed the proposals at it’s meeting in July, and also agreed to visit every site affected to talk to members, and to take whatever legal advice is necessary on the outsourcing plans.

Messages of support from Branches to the members affected are invited, and should be sent to Cathy Cross at PCS HQ (cathyc@pcs.org.uk).

Where the affected members are located

The full list of sites where members are affected by the proposals is as follows:

Sites where security is provided 24 hours a day
Southend TyGlas, Cardiff
Dover East Kilbride
Ralli Quays, Salford Cumbernauld
Queens Dock, Liverpool Shipley
Custom House, London Bootle
Worthing

Sites where security is provided during office hours only
Albert Bridge House, Salford Blackburn House, Stoke-on-Trent
Custom House, Greenock York Place, Edinburgh
Custom House, Newry Portcullis House, Glasgow
Regian House, Liverpool
Dorset House, London