OCS security guards threatened by job cuts and demotions share why they’re prepared to strike

Outsourcing giant OCS has announced plans that could lead to job losses and demotions and as a result PCS launched a ballot which runs until 4 August. The employer OCS has failed to meaningfully consult the staff, who have many years’ service, over plans to cut jobs and significantly worsen their terms and conditions.

The workers protect one of the UK’s most sensitive law enforcement agencies. However, employer OCS refuses to recognise the union, and PCS believes OCS has failed to carry out meaningful consultation with employees whose livelihoods are directly affected by the closure, at the end of September, of the NCA facility at Spring Gardens, Vauxhall. Despite knowing the location would close over 3 years ago, their employer only started to 'consult' about the potential redundancies a few weeks ago.

Great uncertainty

All NCA staff have now been relocated to Stratford however, the remaining security officers, security supervisors, engineers and cleaners, all employed by outsourcing giant OCS remain at Spring Gardens and face a great deal of uncertainty. 

Despite having all been served with notices that their jobs are at risk of redundancy, OCS continues to threaten that existing terms and conditions will not transfer. Workers have to apply for roles at Stratford even though they could be deemed as suitable alternative employment. ONS has also failed to discuss redundancy for those unable to relocate and has only signposted those about to lose jobs after decades of service to an outsourced wellbeing provider as 'support.’

The new roles on offer could also lose key contractual protections, with reduced occupational sick pay, less annual leave and the move from a salaried contract to hourly pay. OCS keeps changing its stance on this, sometimes telling staff terms and conditions will transfer but on other occasions saying they won't. The members have been given nothing in writing about what OCS is proposing yet employees are expected to make decisions about their future employment on expressions of interest forms and in one-to-one meetings.

22 PCS members working as security officers, security supervisors, and receptionists are being balloted to take strike action over OCS’s failures. Most of them have been with the NCA, and the former SOCA and NCIS for decades, protecting those who protect the UK from organised criminal gangs, illegal arms and drugs importation, illegal people trafficking, cyber-crime, and child sexual abuse.

PCS members being balloted have reported that they are voting yes in the ballot to take strike action because “there is no transparency from OCS,” management is poor, there is a lack of trust and because they have “no faith in the company whatsoever.” Another member voted yes “because of the lack of trust of meaningful engagement and OCS's dismissive attitude towards the staff they say they value.”