FM disputes to continue and widen to include more members
OCS members at FCDO will take further strike action and more ISS members will be balloted.
In a further escalation to the ongoing disputes with outsourced facilities management companies ISS and OCS, we have served further notices on both companies.
ISS
We have served notice on ISS of our intention to ballot members in several workplaces including the Canary Wharf Hub, the Department for Education, and the Cabinet Office. The ballot signals an escalation to the ongoing disputes with ISS in DSIT, DBT and DESNZ because of a failure to reach an agreeable settlement on pay, terms and conditions.
OCS
Following 49 days of highly effective and disruptive strike action, which saw the catering facilities closed over the festive period, our OCS members are set to take another 28 days of industrial action at Abercrombie House, the FCDO site in East Kilbride.
OCS members working as cleaners and caterers will take further strike action every weekday from 22 January to 28 February in their long running dispute over pay, terms and conditions. Please use our e-action to call on the FCDO permanent secretary to intervene and resolve the dispute.
Escalation
Our facilities management members working on outsourced contracts managed by the Government Property Agency are even more determined than ever to stand up for what they deserve. The notice of intention to ballot served on ISS and the notice of action served on OCS signals a further significant escalation to the ongoing disputes over pay, terms and conditions.
PCS general secretary Fran Heathcote said: “Our members are fed up with being treated like second class citizens in government buildings.
“They deliver vital services to keep civil service departments running effectively yet are forced onto the Real Living Wage/London Living Wage, receive no company sick pay and receive just the statutory minimum annual leave.
“Ministers must intervene in this dispute to ensure our members receive the pay, terms and conditions they deserve because the contractors, Government Property Agency and Ministers have a role to play in delivering a settlement to these disputes.”