Broadspectrum's Appalling Conditions

350 Serco employee face massive pay cuts

350 Serco employees face big pay cuts and huge losses in working conditions after the Barnett Government awarded WA’s Court Security and Custodial Services contract to Broadspectrum.

This slash and burn decision to take the work off Serco and give it to a dirt cheap labour hire contractor will have a devastating impact upon our court security and prisoner custody.

Under the new contractor, many Serco employees will find it impossible to meet mortgage payments on their homes and cover other living costs.

The Transport Workers Union has vowed to mount a fierce campaign to fight the devastating cuts right up to the March state election.

“It is blatantly obvious that Colin Barnett doesn’t give a damn about working class people and their families.” said TWU secretary Tim Dawson.

“I understand Boardspectrum has little or no experience in the court and prisoner security field.   

“The company has recently released their new EBA for CS&CS employees.

It is absolutely appalling and totally unacceptable

“There has been NO CONSULTATION with existing employees now confronted with cuts and conditions that will have a devastating impact upon their livelihoods.”

“Many of them are struggling to come to terms with the magnitude of the pay cuts and are weighing up their futures.

The Broadspectrum agreement includes:

• BIG WAGE CUTS due to the introduction of a flat rate that will do away with overtime loadings.
• No Regional Allowances for those who work in regional centres – currently $14.000 to a $19,000 per annum.
• ALL current court and custodial officers FORCED TO REAPPLY for their jobs.
• Employees being forced onto a working week of 7 days, Monday-Sunday.
• LOSS of their long service leave and sick leave accruals as the WA state government has not legislated to protect these entitlements.

“Staff and employees are furious at this so called ‘cost-effective’ decision by the Barnett Government,” said Tim Dawson.

“It will have a serious detrimental impact on court security and custodial services in Western Australia.” He warned.

“You pay peanuts and you get monkeys – standards will drop.

“Court and Custody officers work in a dangerous industry and manage dangerous offenders every day.

 The WA State Government should not accept tenders that HARSHLY UNDERMINE THE INCOMES of hardworking, dedicated people.

What incentive will these people have to work hard and remain loyal after the Government has robbed them blind with the flick of a pen.”

This issue demonstrates Colin Barnett’s blatant disregard for employee rights.

It must serve as a warning to all working people that their pay and conditions are under serious threat from the Liberals at state and federal levels.

Our fight for retention of ALL conditions has just begun