Outsourced PCS members in government departments to strike

Outsourced Public and Commercial Services union (PCS) members in several government departments in London will strike for 14 days in a dispute over pay, terms and conditions.

 

PCS members employed by outsourcing giants ISS and G4S as security officers, receptionists, cleaners, caterers and porters have voted overwhelmingly for strike action; G4S members voted 100% for strike action while the ISS ballot showed 97% in favour.

 

The walkouts at the Department for Business and Trade, the Department for Science Innovation and Technology, and the Cabinet Office will take place from 28 October to 10 November.

 

G4S and ISS have failed to make a reasonable pay offer, offering only the London Living wage. They have also refused to improve members’ terms and conditions.

 

While the government recently honoured its commitment to table a bill within 100 days to improve workers’ rights, it is yet to follow through on its promise to ‘carry out the biggest wave of insourcing in a generation’.

 

Although our dispute is with ISS and G4S, we continue to call on the various ministers of the departments involved to intervene and start the process of insourcing these contracts.

 

PCS General Secretary Fran Heathcote said: “This escalation reflects the anger of our G4S and ISS members. They are particularly incensed by the insulting pay offers and the unacceptable fact that many receive no company sick pay.

 

“Ministers must settle these disputes and work towards the insourcing of these contracts to end this perpetual race to the bottom on pay and conditions.

 

"Our members deliver vital services that keep the civil service functioning and deserve to be treated as civil servants, not second class citizens in their own workplaces."