Workers at Government department head office to strike over pay

CLEANERS, CATERERS and security guards working at a Government department’s head office are to stage a strike tomorrow in a dispute over pay.

Members of the Public and Commercial Services union (PCS) employed by contractors at the Business Department (BEIS) in central London will mount a picket line outside the building.

The workers, employed by Engie and Aramark, are seeking the voluntary London Living Wage of £10.55 an hour, which is higher than the statutory rate of £7.83 for adults.

The union said the “scandal” of low pay and poor conditions was caused by outsourcing and is campaigning to bring services back in-house.

PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka said: “Our members are determined to do whatever it takes industrially, to get decent pay and conditions at work.“The private contractors should be ashamed of themselves for not paying staff the London Living Wage.

“BEIS, who awarded the contracts to these companies, also share the responsibility for resolving this dispute.

“Ministers need to step in and ensure that outsourced workers are paid the same as other BEIS colleagues and ultimately bring the jobs back in-house.”

A BEIS spokesman said: “All our staff are valued members of the BEIS team and all deserve a fair and competitive wage, whether directly employed or working for our contractors.

“Following a review of contractor pay, the department has agreed with its contractors that they will align the pay of their cleaning, catering, mailroom and security staff with pay rates for workers in comparable roles.”