Job Centre security guards to strike as figures show 80 per cent suffer abuse

More than 1,000 job centre staff are set to strike

Meanshile survey of more than 900 workers who are set to walk out reveals staff being savaged in the neck by dogs, punched, attacked with screwdrivers and customers behaving ‘like wild animals.

They describe verbal abuse on a daily basis, including threats to their families, racist and ablest abuse and death threats.

One worker even said they had to be driven home because an angry customer was waiting for them outside the job centre.

In total, 83 per cent said they had been verbally abused at work during the past 12 months, with 16 per cent reporting physical attacks.

Staff employed by G4S to work at the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) will walk out across the country from midnight on 7 May until 23.59 on 8 May.

Further strike days will take place on 13, 20, 28 and 29 may in the dispute over pay.

Eamon O’Hearn, GMB National Officer, said:

“G4S and DWP are happy to let guards scrape by on the minimum wage.

Yet these shocking survey results really bring home the terrifying pressure these guards work under.”

“It’s not good enough – and for the first time guards are standing together to do something about it.”

Selected testimony form DWP security guards

Dog attack and its owner . Neck and throat injuries. Company making me attend disciplinary hearing for it also .

Customers coming in like wild animals trying to smash the place up and grab staff members

Attacked with screwdrivers

Pushed and threatened to be stabbed

Daily getting called names, threats towards myself or family, swore at.

Was threatened with physical violence after asking a customer to leave due to the member of staff no longer wishing to continue the appointment, i was then told he would wait outside for me to finish work, I had to be driven home

In the last 5 weeks had 3 death threats made against me. Death threats in the past from dangerous customers