Security officers protested at the Ballymount offices of Top Security demanding that they drop their challenge to the incoming Security Sector Employment Regulation Order (ERO). The protest was organised by Security Officers United, a campaign which aims to organise nationally to improve the low pay and poor conditions affecting people working in the sector. The protest lasted from 1pm to just before 2pm with support from People Before Profit and the Independent Workers’ Union.
Security Officers United’s campaign plans to protest tomorrow 14 September at 1pm at the Dáil as TDs return.
Also today SIPTU officials held a briefing session for elected representatives in the Dáil. SIPTU are suggesting representatives in government may be able to challenge the ex parte injunction which the High Court granted the bosses of Top Security, Morbury and LAS against the long awaited update to the security sector ERO which would benefit 16,000 workers.
The text of the Security Officers United said the following:
TOP SECURITY DROP THE HIGH COURT CHALLENGE NOW
16,000 Security Officers working in Ireland are waiting for the new Employment Regulation Order to be signed and give us the new starting minimum of 12.50.
That’s still not enough to make a 40 hour work week work for us. Many of us work a 60 hour week because of low wages.
We need better. Again rich Security Company owners like Morbury/Top Security and LAS can afford to play games with our incomes. We can’t.
We aren’t playing anymore. We needed that increase. It was agreed under the Joint Labour Committee. It wasn’t even not even enough. Drop the High Court action TODAY.