Civil servants union PCS flag

Around 500 court security officers in England and Wales are set to take strike action in an ongoing dispute over pay. The workers, represented by the PCS union, voted for industrial action on a margin of 91.34 per cent after a pay offer the union branded ‘insulting’.

The staff in question work for the private contract OCS. PCS says the latest pay offer from the firm would mean that security officers are paid just 38p per hour above the minimum wage.

The strike could hit all courts in England and Wales where OCS hold the security contract. PCS is yet to announce the timing of duration of the industrial action.

Mark Serwotka, PCS General Secretary, said: “It is completely unacceptable that the vast majority of our members working for OCS are experiencing serious financial hardship.

“Yet attempts by the employer to frustrate the balloting process have not weakened the resolve of these hard-working, dedicated security officers to fight for a reasonable pay offer that addresses poverty pay.”

“This strike action will be a powerful reminder of how fundamental their work is to keeping courts open and safe for the public across England and Wales.”

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Image credit: StaticGirl – Creative Commons