Guards claim Games wages still not paid

COMMONWEALTH Games security guards say they are still waiting to be paid a month after the closing ceremony.

Despite repeated attempts to secure their wages, workers claim they have been left out of pocket, with some individuals owed thousands of dollars.

A group of 25 disgruntled security guards says it has gone to the Fair Work Ombudsman in a last-ditch attempt to receive payment.

Four companies – Wilson Security, MSS Security, SecureCorp and SNP – were paid $66 million to provide the private workforce for the Games.

Under these companies, 66 smaller security subcontractors were employed.

The leader of the worker group seeking payment – a security supervisor who wishes to remain anonymous – said the underpayments had occurred across a number of contractors.

“We are still waiting to be paid, and I have heard nothing,” said the security supervisor who claims to be out of pocket $4000 in wages personally.

“I am in an emotional state. I have people in my life who depend on me to provide, on the other hand I am powerless to do that because I haven’t received the money that was supposed to be paid.”

Another, an Adelaide-based security guard who was stationed at Carrara, said he was owed at least 90 hours pay. “My wife is due in about three weeks with our first baby, so I took the job to help with that.

“We were told we were going to be paid by the 19th of April, but have heard nothing.”

GOLDOC, which was not responsible for paying the workforce directly, said it was aware of outstanding payments.

“There are outstanding payments to some security guards relating to allowances, overtime and any outstanding claims,” a spokesman said.

“The contracted security companies are responsible for invoicing GOLDOC directly for any outstanding amounts owed and GOLDOC has paid all invoices received.

“GOLDOC has met all of its financial commitments to the contracted companies with funding provided prior to the commencement of the Games.

“It is GOLDOC’s expectation that all security guards will be paid and any outstanding issues are being progressed as a priority,” the said.

SNP Security told the Bulletin it was committed to ensuring fair compensation for all its employees but would not disclose that all workers had been paid “due to contractual confidentiality”.

Wilson Security, MSS Security, SecureCorp did not respond to questions.