PCS Facilities Management members stand resolute

The strike action, which impacts the catering and cleaning services at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office in East Kilbride and security services at a number of departments including Cabinet Office, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, Department for Business and Trade and Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, comes as a result of a failure to table pay offers that lift members out of poverty pay and deliver significant improvements to terms and conditions.

This week saw about 100 G4S members march in protest through Whitehall to take their message direct to G4S bosses at their London headquarters. In a powerful display of unity, the strikers were joined on the march by MPs John McDonnell, Diane Abbott and Brian Leishman. Two other MPs, Richard Burgon and Imran Hussain, spoke to members at the picket line at 70 Whitehall. 

In a message of solidarity PCS general secretary Fran Heathcote said: “Solidarity to every single member who has taken part in action over recent weeks in your ongoing fight for fair pay and terms and conditions. G4S is a rogue employer who profits off the backs of our hard-working members, paying poverty wages and decimating terms and conditions, PCS won’t stand for it and that is why we as a union are fully behind this action, we applaud your strength and we know that you will win. As your general secretary I am immensely proud of the ongoing efforts of reps, organisers and members who have attended pickets every day, who have worked to build membership and who are showing that there is power in a union.

"We are united in this fight and through solidarity and strength, you will win for all of us and the movement."

The strike action, which continues into the weekend for G4S, has been solidly supported with vibrant and lively picket lines as members stood firm and resolute each day to send a clear message to both OCS and G4S that they are no longer willing to accept derisory pay increases and a refusal to improve their working lives by affording them company sick pay and an increase to annual leave entitlements.

PCS G4S rep Carly said ‘’I’ve been on strike and stood on the picket lines with my colleagues I am so proud of my team, and we will push forward together to resolve this’’.

PCS OCS rep Eddie added ‘’Me and my team have been on strike since September, yet we have seen no attempt to resolve the dispute. We are clear that we will continue to stand together, united and determined to win. We are asking for the pay, terms, and conditions that we deserve’’.

OCS and G4S must now act to table reasonable and acceptable pay offers or face potential escalations to the disputes.

Messages of solidarity can be sent to outsourcedworkers@pcs.org.uk