Security staff working at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office are set to strike for another five weeks over pay and terms and conditions.
PCS, the civil service’s biggest union, has announced another wave of strike action by outsourced G4S security staff working the FCDO’s East Kilbride office.
The staff have already taken several weeks of strike action across October, November, December and January alongside cleaning, catering and facilities contractors at the building who work for OCS.
The latest G4S strike dates will run from 24 January to 28 February, joining OCS staff who are planning walkouts from 22 January to 28 February.
PCS said G4S has so far failed to make a pay offer that “lifts members out of poverty pay and delivers any significant improvements to terms and conditions”.
The union's general secretary, Fran Heathcote, said: "Our G4S members are striking alongside their OCS colleagues as they are no longer prepared to be treated like second class citizens in government buildings.
“They deliver vital services yet are forced onto the Real Living Wage, receive no company sick pay and receive the statutory minimum annual leave entitlement.
“The GPA, the FCDO and the ministers have a role to play in delivering a settlement to these disputes and until they intervene PCS will continue to escalate the disputes.”
PCS said it met with FCDO management last week and has another meeting scheduled, which it hopes will be positive, adding “but until the dispute is settled the strike action will continue”.
A G4S spokesperson said: “We are disappointed that industrial action is going ahead. We will continue to work with our recognised unions and hope to reach an amicable agreement.
“We have contingency plans in place to ensure there is minimal disruption to the sites affected.”