I don’t know if you are aware, but our security officers have been striking over the last 2 months in order to force the University of London to honour its commitments on pay – essentially as a result of broken promises they have had a 25% relative pay cut since 2011.
We have already had 5 days of strike action, and now the dispute is escalating as porters and post room staff have voted to also take industrial action.
The struggle is now becoming a part of a wider campaign, spearheaded by the LSE UVW cleaners (https://www.uvwunion.org.uk/justiceforlsecleaners/) to end the two-tier workforce and bring services back in-house.
Full details are here – https://iwgb-universityoflondon.org/category/security-officers/.
We really need support from other unions, and so I am writing to ask if your union branch would:
- Write an email to our Vice-Chancellor (there is a sample email from IoE UCU below)
- Pass a motion of support
- If possible make a donation to the strike fund (https://www.crowdpac.co.uk/campaigns/1870/the-independent-workers-union-of-great-britainOR contact dannymillum@iwgb.org.uk for bank details).
Anything you could do to help would be much appreciated – and I’m happy to answer any questions that you might have regarding this dispute.
Best wishes
Danny Millum
Branch Secretary
University of London IWGB
https://iwgb-universityoflondon.org/
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Standard letter:
I am writing on behalf of ……… We are utterly appalled to learn that your security guards at Senate House, who have chosen to organise themselves within the union IWGB, have effectively received a 25% pay cut over the past several years due to management’s refusal to keep their promises.
We are extremely disappointed in your approach to this dispute and until you concede to the security guards demands we will be standing in solidarity with them every step of the way.
We ,……….are part of the struggle against two-tier workforces and precarity which we know undermines wages, conditions, long term health and happiness of such workers.
We urge the University of London to guarantee its security officers:
- the 25% pay rise they were promised six years ago
- itemised pay slips
- greater security of employment by ending what are effectively zero-hours contracts.
We look forward to seeing justice prevail.
