ONS analysis found security guards had one of highest fatality rates for men
ONS analysis found security guards had one of the highest fatality rates for men
GMB understands that since the start of the pandemic there have been at least 4 G4S security guard deaths on the Job Centre contract.
The call comes as the ONS released devastating covid death figures which show there had been 143 fatalities in the security sector alone.
The ONS’s analysis found that security guards and those in related occupations had one of the highest fatality rates for men, with 100.7 deaths per 100,000 linked to coronavirus.
Our members repeatedly tell us about the challenges they face working on the front line in job centres, breaches of social distancing, abusive behaviour from customers and now a derisory pay offer from the Department of Work and Pensions – it's a kick in the teeth.
Nadine Houghton, GMB National Officer
GMB has been critical of the UK government's failure to provide guaranteed covid absence pay for the Department of Work and Pensions security guards on the job centre contract when they need to self-isolate.
The union has called on Therese Coffey MP to intervene and make sure the security guards receive a decent pay increase this year after risking their own safety in the covid pandemic.
Nadine Houghton, GMB National Officer said:
“It’s no surprise to GMB members working as security guards in job centres that their occupation has some of the highest Covid death rates.
“Our members repeatedly tell us about the challenges they face working on the front line in job centres, breaches of social distancing, abusive behaviour from customers and now a derisory pay offer from the Department of Work and Pensions – it's a kick in the teeth.
“We’ve repeatedly pushed Therese Coffey to ensure there are proper covid absence payments for job centre security guards, and it’s a scandal that, whilst we have won improvements, we still don’t have an adequate scheme.
“It can’t wait. With security staff at even more risk than usual, the minister needs to act immediately to provide proper absence payments and give the guards in her department a proper pay rise.”
