HSBC headquarters facing security free-for-all as guards strike over ‘pitiful’ pay increase

Security guards employed at HSBC’s headquarters in Canary Wharf London, will begin strike action next week following a pitiful pay increase.

The security guards, who are employed by Bidvest Noonan on an outsourced contract, are paid as little as £12.35 an hour. The dispute is a result of Bidvest Noonan imposing a two per cent pay increase and refusing to enter into any further negotiations.

The workers will take an initial three days of strike action beginning on Wednesday 28 September and ending at close of business on Friday 30 September. During the strike, HSBC’s head office will be left without effective security arrangements

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Both Bidvest Noonan and HSBC are incredibly wealthy. They can fully afford to make our members a fair pay offer but have chosen not to in order to further boost what are already huge profits.

“Unite will be giving its total support to our members employed by Bidvest Noonan in their campaign for a decent pay rise.”

The imposed pay deal is effectively a huge pay cut for the workers as the real inflation rate (RPI) currently stands at 12.3 per cent.

Both Bidvest Noonan (latest pre-tax profits of £7.3 million) and the client HSBC, which made pre-tax profits of £14.5 billion, are more than able to ensure that the security guards receive a fair pay increase.

Unite regional officer Steve Rowlatt said: “Strike action will inevitably leave HSBC without effective security at its headquarter but our members are taking strike action as a last resort, as a result of Bidvest Noonan refusing to enter into meaningful negotiations and imposing a pitiful pay increase.

“HSBC, as the incredibly wealthy client, could quickly resolve this dispute by ensuring that Bidvest Noonan increase the pay of its security guards, Its failure to act speaks volumes.”