Warrington’s Job Center has boarded up its windows as part of a nationwide strike involving Department of Labor security officers over low pay rates.Warrington’s Job Center has boarded up its windows as part of a nationwide strike involving Department of Labor security officers over low pay rates. Around 1,400 employees, employed by G4S, began a week-long strike last Monday, with concerns escalating throughout the week. According to their union, GMB, 90% of the officers are earning only the minimum wage, despite G4S receiving £211 million from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) for job center security. The DWP’s labor costs for the same period were only £161 million. GMB National Officer, Eamon O’Hearn, highlighted the dangerous nature of the officers’ work, saying they often face physical attacks. He criticized G4S for earning excessive profits while the officers struggle financially. The union has threatened to continue escalating the strike action unless G4S agrees to pay a livable wage for its officers.
If you’ve walked or driven past Warrington’s Job Center recently, you may have noticed the windows are boarded up.
In the centre, on Mersey Street at Bridge Foot, wooden planks have been installed to cover the windows.
This is part of a national industrial action involving more than 1,400 Labor Department security officers.
A week-long strike was in force last week, involving angry employees in dispute over pay rates that their union said was paying 90 percent of them only the minimum wage.
Guards employed by G4S across Britain walked out last Monday, as strike action continued into Saturday.
Union GMB said the Department for Work and Pensions has handed G4S £211 million to manage job center security, despite labor costs being just £161 million in the same period.
Eamon O’Hearn, GMB national officer, said: “Job Center security guards are being punched, attacked and punched in the neck by dogs – just for carrying out their duties.
“Yet 90 percent of them struggle to survive on the minimum wage, while G4S rakes in millions from the DWP.
“It is abhorrent and these strikes will continue to escalate unless G4S agrees to pay them wages they can live on.”
