A failure of big businesses like Coles and government to implement appropriate security standards has left the Victorian public with a failing security sector, and more than 1700 workers out of a job.
The collapse of MA Services Group into voluntary administration in December followed months of serious integrity concerns and public scrutiny.
The collapse occurred more than a year after the Victorian Government was warned by United Workers Union about adding MA Services and other companies to its official procurement panel for Government security work.*
MA Services provided security services to the AFL, Aldi, Coles and Dan Murphy as well as the Victorian Government – including Melbourne landmarks Southern Cross Station and Federation Square.
United Workers Union (UWU) is today calling on the Victorian Government to:
- Conduct an urgent review of regulatory settings for the security industry, including its own procurement practices.
- Adopt stronger integrity checks and consistent enforcement of security sector standards.
- Live up to its own policies to provide better security for Victorians and a better security sector.**
United Workers Union National President Jo Schofield said public safety and workers’ jobs are put at risk when governments and big businesses such as Coles fail to apply strong standards to companies delivering security services.
“Big businesses like Coles and governments who use security services have an obligation to the safety of their customers and the public,” Ms Schofield said.
“The duty to provide safety is not served if the money is going to dodgy security operators who work with bikie gangs.
“The impacts on the work force are also severe. When proper standards aren’t enforced, good companies are pushed aside and the worst actors are rewarded. The collapse of MA Services demonstrates the consequences of failing to act on warning signs.”
Ms Schofield said the administration process has left hundreds of workers facing uncertainty and raised serious questions about lax oversight of security contractors.
“When governments and big businesses like Coles require decent wages, direct employment by the head contractor and real compliance, the work goes to better companies and bikies are shut out,” she said.
“Weak scrutiny does the opposite. It rewards dodgy operators who undercut reputable businesses and open the door to criminal influence.”