Security officers at Allied Security Limited are angry, after the company offered them a $1 increase.
Speaking with Guardian Media earlier this month, employees said the last wage increase they received was in 2011. The workers said the company’s latest offer is to increase their salaries by $1 without giving them backpay.
Workers said they were given an increase in their salaries when minimum wage went to $20.50 at the beginning of the year, an increase from $18.76, but they were hoping to get a better package after their ongoing salary negotiations as well.
Contacted on the issue, Estate Police Association (EPA) president Deryck Richardson said the association requested a 15 per cent wage increase, which was countered by the company with a dollar increase in salaries and a possible removal of allowances.
In a letter to the Estate Police Association on January 19, however, the company said it understood the need to compensate its workers but noted that based on its financial standings, it could not offer significant increases.
“It is with a heavy heart that I must inform you that our company is not in a favourable financial position to offer any buyout for the specified collective bargaining periods,” the letter stated, adding that the company considered taking a loan to finance the increases but based on its already stressed finances, that wasn’t a feasible solution.
Employees claimed that aside from the negotiations being stymied, officers are victimised if they raise concerns. One officer said one of the ways that they are victimised is being made to work in far-away areas.
“If you are living, let’s say in La Brea, they will send you to work in town and vice-versa. They just don’t care about their workers,” the employee claimed.
“The company told us that we could get the increased salaries but no backpay, that is madness,” another officer said.
Guardian Media emailed Allied Security about the claims made by the officers and association on February 1 and received a response on Wednesday.
The company said it could not speak on the matters raised, as some of the issues are before the Industrial Court and it did not want to prejudice the matter.
“Rest assured, Allied has always provided total hourly compensation well above market rates and treats it’s employees fairly, justly and reasonably.”