Inverness G4S security workers go on strike as they ‘can’t afford to live’ due to low wages
Inverness security guards working at the DWP Job Centre are on strike today and tomorrow over a real-term pay cut that has seen 90 per cent of them paid just the minimum wage.
Employed by G4S, the workers have been in an ongoing pay dispute with the global multi-million-pound company since December 2022. G4S is contracted by the government to carry out security at Job Centres across the UK.
Ninety per cent of these security guards earn just the minimum wage, warns GMB Union.
This is the fourth time Job Centre security guards have walked out in anger at pay rates which see them earn less than the cleaners.
DWP has handed G4S £211 million by the Department for Work and Pensions since December 2022, despite employment costs being just £161 million during the same period.
Speaking outside the Job Centre on Young Street, Inverness, security guard Robert Yorston said: “We are on national minimum wage. We are contracted to do security in the job centre and we’ve all been threatened with violence. There is a risk with the job.
Fellow security worker, Scott Grant said: “All we’re asking for is a cost of living, it’s nothing ridiculous. This is a global multi-million pound company and they are saying they can’t afford to give us that due to the restraints in the contract.
“Even within G4S we are paid less than everyone else. I’ve worked in every sector of security and I would say the closest to what we do is door supervision.
“We are dealing with people - often it’s not their fault, they are the lowest ebb - but they are desperate. They are frustrated and angry because of the system. We have to be polite and professional with dealing with these people and they can be volatile and unpredictable.
“There’s many of us that are now on Universal Credit because we can’t afford to live without it. It’s insane. We shouldn’t have to be on government handouts just to live. All we’re asking for is a cost of living and so we don’t have to do that.”
Eamon O’Hearn, GMB national officer, said: “These workers do a very dangerous, difficult job.
“Yet they are paid the same as the cleaners who don’t have to deal with terrifying hostility from some customers.
“Ninety per cent of these security guards earn just the minimum wage and can barely keep a roof over their heads.
“It’s shameful; G4S must do the decent thing and make these workers and offer they can live on.”
A G4S spokesperson said: "We're disappointed that the GMB has refused to take our improved pay offer to their members. We are continuing to try to reach an amicable agreement, and have implemented contingency plans to minimise disruption to our customer.”
