First day of OCS strike closes and disrupts courts

Striking PCS members force court closures and severe disruptions on first day of a four-day action over pay.

Security officers in 149 courts across England and Wales today (22 September) started a four-day strike over pay, after being offered just 38p above the National Living Wage.  

The action, which continues on 25, 27 and 29 September, has seen hundreds of PCS members take action, forming strong and lively picket lines across the country.  

Boosted by a rise in membership of 50 members working for contractor OCS in September alone, this action has already forced the closure of many courts across England and Wales, causing a large number of court cases to be cancelled or disrupted.  

As a direct result of the action of our members, many courts have also either operated with inadequate staffing levels or brazenly used contingency labour which includes inexperienced or unvetted staff. 

In Liverpool Crown Court, the court building had to be evacuated during the strike action by PCS security officers because security guidelines were breached.  

This occurred because agency workers were asked to cover a role they’re not trained for. Although no harm was done today, the chaos underlines the importance of having trained professionals running the security of our courts. 

The remaining days of action (25, 27 and 29 September) are expected to further impact the running of these almost 150 courts in England and Wales.  

OCS members will hold picket lines from 7.30am until around 10am – 10.30am on each strike day at the following courts: 

  • Brighton Law Courts  
  • Birmingham Civil and Family Justice centre 
  • Blackwood Family and County Court  
  • Bradford Combined Court  
  • Bradford Magistrates  
  • Chester Crown  
  • Darlington County Court 
  • Leeds Combined court  
  • Leeds Magistrates  
  • Lincoln Crown Court (22 and 27 September only) 
  • Liverpool QEII Law Courts, Derby Square  
  • Manchester CJC  (27 and 29 September)
  • Manchester Crown Court (Crown Square) (27 and 29 September)
  • Newcastle Civic, family and tribunals court  
  • Newcastle Combined court (quayside) 
  • South Sefton Magistrates  
  • Stoke Crown/ North Staffordshire.

Please try to go along and show your support to these low-paid workers. You can send messages of support to editor@pcs.org.uk. 

Not yet a PCS member? Join online today.