News

G4S private security guards strike are taking strike action in detention centres in The Netherlands. They are protesting over the failure of G4S to make efforts to redeploy guards or offer arrangements to assist in finding alternative posts in the company. Private security guards working for G4S at detention centres at Schipol, Rotterdam and Alphen are on strike.

Many of the guards are members of  UNI Affiliate FNV Bondgenoten.

“In the time I’ve worked here, I have seen a lot and also intervened in fights or been spat at. That’s part of the job”, says detention supervisor Robbert. “But I find it incomprehensible that loyal G4S employees are just considered numbers. We lose our jobs and still get a kick as thanks.”

Striking workers also complain about conditions, and of not even being able to use the toilet:

400 Workers are to lose jobs due to Government cuts as introduced by Security and Justice Minister Teeve. Some prisons are closing and private security companies are losing the contracts. This means that the 400 G4S workers will lose their jobs from July 1. According to G4S, there is no alternative work for them, and not enough money for a social plan.

“Although there is nothing G4S can do about the fact that the Prisons Service has cast us aside, there has been little effort to reinstate us elsewhere from G4S ” says detention supervisor Daniel. “The social plan is one of ‘thank you, and goodbye! ‘, and that makes me angry.”

His colleague Jessica adds: “I have always remained loyal to the detention centre, but now we are like dirt thrown to the side, without any support from G4S, both in finding another job and financially.”

The security guards are demanding a social plan with a good outplacement to help them find new jobs, and financial compensation to offset the job losses. Despite consultation with the unions, there has been no agreement on the social plan. When an inferior plan was agreed with the works council, this was a bridge too far for the workers, many of whom have burnt the letters from the company as a protest and 100 of them are picketing the work sites.

Send messages of Solidarity to FNV Bondgenoten -http://www.fnvbondgenoten.nl/over_de_bond/contact/