SIPTU members in the security industry have negotiated a new agreement which will see their pay increase by more than 8% over the next three years and guarantee them minimum working hours. The new Employment Regulation Order (ERO) for the Security Sector was agreed following intensive negotiations by SIPTU Shop Stewards and Organisers with employer representatives within the Joint Labour Committee (JLC) structure. The new ERO will benefit up to 17,000 Security Officers in the industry. The ERO comes into force today (Thursday, 1st June). SIPTU Sector Organiser, Ed Kenny, led the workers’ representative delegation at the JLC talks. He said: “The ERO provides for three pay increases for Security Officers, with a new minimum hourly rate of €11.05 per hour to be introduced from today. A further increase to €11.35 per hour will be implemented in June 2018 and another to €11.65 per hour in June 2019. This represents an overall pay increase of 8.4% over three years.” He added: “The ERO also ensures that workers who enter the industry will be offered a contract of employment with a minimum of 24 hours work per week once they have completed six months service. Other benefits included in the ERO are sick pay, personal attack benefit, death in service benefit, paid bereavement leave and the provision of uniforms, the cost of which will be borne by the employer.” SIPTU Contract Services Sector President, Christy Waters said: “This is a good day for Security Officers. Over the course of this agreement Security Workers will have achieved a living wage and will have more secure hours of work which shows the power of low paid private sector, service workers when they join together and bargain collectively through their union.” SIPTU Sector Organiser, Diane Jackson, said: “Security Officers carry out an important role in our society and deserve to have their work appropriately valued. This is an industry that has been traditionally characterised as one of low pay and insecure working hours but the provisions set out in this ERO will go some way towards improving conditions of employment for Security Officers.”
SIPTU wins new deal on wages and hours of work for Security Officers
