DWP to keep Job Centres open 'where safe' amid strike action

The Department for Work and Pensions has warned some Job Centres may have to close as security guards begin a week-long walk-out. The GMB union was expecting 1,500 of its members employed by G4S to take part in the strike, which has been sparked by an escalating pay dispute.

According to the union, 90 per cent of the security guards were only paid minimum wage. Staff allegedly could 'barely afford to feed their families' and just wanted to be 'paid a proper wage' for the job, which saw them 'attacked with alarming regularity'.

G4S said it was "keen to bring this dispute to an amicable conclusion", adding that its pay offer was for a 6.5 per cent rise from April 2023, and an average 9.3 per cent increase from December 2023 to April 2024. The strike was expected to continue until Saturday, July 6.

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Eamon O’Hearn, GMB's national officer, said: “If the Department for Work and Pensions and G4S wants to end this dispute, make sure these guards are paid enough to live on. G4S has been handed millions by the Government, yet our members can barely afford to feed their families. The work they do is hard; they are attacked with alarming regularity just for doing their job. The least they expect is to be paid a proper wage.”

A G4S spokesman said: “Our dedicated security colleagues do a great job, sometimes in difficult circumstances. We urge the GMB to present our offer to our employees, which is both above minimum wage and inflation. We are keen to bring this dispute to an amicable conclusion.

“Our contingency plans, agreed in partnership with DWP, have proved highly effective in maintaining a full service, and we continue to adapt them to ensure the safety of DWP locations, employees and the service users."

Regarding the offer on the table, a G4S spokesperson added: “This is our best and last offer put to the GMB in April 2024 and the union has refused to put it to a vote by its members. Once agreed all backdated pay would be paid to our employees. Since 2022, G4S has made 12 pay offers and the GMB has taken only two to a ballot.”

The DWP has said the strike would not affect benefit payments, or its telephone services. It said Job Centres would remain open 'where it is safe to do so', adding: "In any instances where a Job Centre might have to close, we will contact customers if appointments need to be rescheduled and will signpost urgent appointments to alternative locations."