| What: | Security workers and supporters protest against dodgy companies getting Vic Govt security contracts. |
| Where: | National Gallery of Victoria, main entrance, St Kilda Road |
| When: | 10:30am, Friday, November 29 |
| Who: | United Workers Union security members affected by the changes |
| Site contact: | Nicholas Richardson, United Workers Union Property Services Co-ordinator. |
United Workers Union is today publicly protesting about new entries on the Victorian Government’s procurement panel for security companies, after an analysis shows poor track records, underpayments and possible legal breaches.
“Public safety and workers’ jobs are put at risk if the Department of Government Services unthinkingly opens the door to dodgy companies that don’t live up to the highest standards for the public or workers,” United Workers Union Property Services Co-ordinator Nick Richardson said today.
“Many of the new companies on the expanded list who can now win major Victorian Government security contracts look fly-by-night. Two of these companies appear to have ignored legal obligations to register their workers with the Portable Long Service Leave Authority.
“Four others don’t even describe themselves as working in the security industry in their registration with the Victorian Labour Hire Authority.
“We have already raised with the Victorian Government issues workers have faced with another new company on the list, Corsec Services, where we have acted for a worker who was up to $4,000 a year worse off, and we believe others are being impacted with systemic underpayments.
“What’s worse is that every new company on this list does not have any commitment to live up to the Victorian Safeguard scheme, a worthwhile Victorian Government measure to ensure fair pay and conditions for security guards in a notoriously fly-by-night and low-paid industry.
“The public should not have to put up with irresponsible changes that have a real impact on the safety of the public and the safety and security of security workers’ jobs.”
A union analysis has found the following issues with companies on the list:
- Two new companies on the list – MA Services Group and City Watch Security (Aust) – have had conditions placed on them by the Victorian Labour Hire Authority, suggesting apparent breaches of worker protections.
- Four new companies on the list – Ultimate Security Australia, SWC Security, MA Bunjil and Secom Australia – do not describe themselves as security companies in their Victorian Labour Hire Authority licence. Described “industry” focuses include “construction”, “retail trade”, “education and training” and “information media and telecommunications”.
- Two new companies on the list – Citywatch Security (Aust) and MA Bunjil – do not list any employees with the Portable Long Service Leave Authority, suggesting they are either inactive, the Victorian-based companies are not doing any work in Victoria or in the worst case they are not registering their workers as required by law to give workers Portable Long Service Leave.
- A new company on the list, Corsec Services, has been previously flagged by United Workers Union with the Victorian Government for underpaying a worker up to $4000 a year while fulfilling a V/Line security contract, in what the union sees as an unresolved systemic underpayments issue.
“We are calling on Government Services Minister Gabrielle Williams to properly assess the merits of these new companies, and demand they live up to the commitments the Victorian Government has made in its Fair Jobs Code and the Safeguard scheme,” Mr Richardson said.