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all Security news
Proposed settlement for First Security
Mon 21 Mar 11
This is for Unite members at First Security outside Auckland.
Strike action against security company lockout
Sat 19 Mar 11
Update 21st March
Unite responded with a picket on Saturday from 5pm. An on the spot deal was brokered whereby the lockout was lifted with negotiations at 9am on Sunday. The result is a much improved offer which is currently being put to members for approval.
Earthquake information: ISS and First Security
Tue 1 Mar 11
Unite has asked all employers of our members in Christchurch to inform us about their plans for workers in the aftermath of the Christchurch Earthquake. This is the initial response from ISS & First Security on Thursday 24th February:
Our building in St Asaph St has suffered quite badly. We have an engineer checking the building today and contingency plans if it is proved to be unsafe
“Tour of Shame” of unscrupulous Christchurch employers
Thu 16 Sep 10
On Sunday 19th Sept Unite Union will be conducting lightning pickets across the city of Christchurch to name and shame the unscrupulous employers that have put profit before the welfare of their staff during the aftermath of the 7.1 earthquake.
“Just like the people of Christchurch, most companies have behaved amazingly well, whilst there are those individuals who have chosen to act appallingly during this uncertain time.” Said Matt Jones, Christchurch Unite Organiser
First Security bail on workers
Fri 10 Sep 10
First Security has been accused of putting profit before workers welfare in the aftermath of the Christchurch earthquake.
Unite National Security Coordinator Barry Sutherland has been refused the right to speak to members of First Security Guard Services Limited in the Christchurch based National Communications Centre. “Feedback from the staff has indicated that they have been forced to work, some having no option but to bring their children to the workplace. Staff did not have access to the EAP services for the First 5 days after the 7.1 Earthquake”, said Barry Sutherland.
“The General Manager arrived in Christchurch 5 days after the devastating ordeal occurred, gave his John Key wave and left.
Security whistleblower sacked for exposing fraud on taxpayers
Fri 2 Jul 10
Unite Union is outraged the security guard who spoke out against her employer pressuring staff to “cheat” so they would complete NZQA security training modules has been sacked by her employer.
“Cheating” provides government subsidies for security company
Tue 4 May 10
Unite Union has requested the New Zealand Qualifications Authority investigate the provision of training for security guards at Allied Security where staff undergoing training have been supplied with the answers to fill in “in their own words” (see email attached)
Following an email to site supervisors the staff undergoing training were provided with the Assessor Guides from which to copy the answers into their training booklets.
One of our members refused to complete the booklets by copying answers because she said it was “cheating” . She complained to the Union and we are now taking this up with the New Zealand Qualification Authority.
Unite has copies of the Assessor Guides (answers) and student booklets provided to these guards.
Security Officers Training Day
Sat 10 Oct 09
Health and Safety, pay rates and pizzas (for lunch) were the main topics discussed at the recent training session for security officer delegates. Everyone was enthusiastic about the opportunities for the union to work at significant improvement in pay and conditions for this sector. Security is freely acknowledged by the companies themselves to be low-paid with long hours of work to bring in enough income. Guards typically work 12 hour shifts overnight and frequently 60 to 70 hours per week at not much above the minimum wage. Health and Safety is an area where huge improvement is needed. Every day guards are placed in difficult situations often with minimal training and safety gear such as RTs which are not operational.
Unite News
Wed 5 Aug 09
Previous editions of Unite's email newsletter.
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Security staff on strike for the first time in over three years
Wed 6 Aug 08
For the first time in at least 3 years, security patrol staff from First Security Guard Services walked off the job last Tuesday from 7:30pm in protest against the company's offer during pay negotiations.
Company management arrived at the Unite offices, where security cars were lining the street, their occupants inside refusing to respond to the alarms going off around a rainy Auckland City.
The company promised a pay offer by lunchtime the following day and the guards went back to work at 8:30pm.
"It was impressive how quickly the workers got a renewed offer from the company when they took it upon themselves to carry out industrial action," says Unite security organiser, John Minto.
The offer came through and discussions have continued since then.
