United Voice

MSS guards, who provide crowd control, entry point, ground and player security at the MCG, are today filing for the right to strike over a pay dispute. 

Without properly trained guards, upcoming footy matches and events at the MCG would have to be cancelled due to health, safety and terrorism concerns.

A strike by MSS guards could also force closures at major defence contractors, public hospitals, universities, government buildings including the Reserve Bank and tax office, financial institutions and oil refineries.

MSS, the country’s largest security contractor, pays guards as little as $16.12 an hour.

LHMU Security Union State Secretary Jess Walsh said guards were frustrated that after over six months of negotiations, MSS is still refusing them fair pay.

“MSS guards have been left with no option but to strike. MSS has repeatedly refused to give them fair pay in line with other major security contractors, ISS and Wilson.”

“A MSS security strike would cause major disruption over the city, and put the safety and financial security of millions of Australians at risk,” said Ms Walsh.

“The potential impact of a MSS strike shows how much we depend on private security contractors to ensure our safety. It’s disgusting that these highly-trained, experienced professionals who protect the well-being of all Victorians should be left to struggle through life on unliveable wages.”

 “When things go wrong, guards are the first on the scene to stop violence, to help people in distress, or to perform first aid.”

“Providing proper training and paying guards fair wages is the only way to ensure that public safety is not jeopardised,” Ms Walsh said.

 “Cowboy contractors are putting public and guard safety in danger by ignoring crowd-control ratios, failing to provide proper training and failing to meet health and safety laws. A survey of guards found over 95% believed more needs to be done to clamp down on dodgy contractors.”

Last week a security guard who had been paid just $1.26 an hour for his work at the

Australian Open successfully sued his employer for over $115,000.

“As the biggest contractor in the country, MSS has a duty to step up and join other industry leaders ISS and Wilson to build an industry where public and guard safety counts.”

“Only by providing proper training and rates of pay are we going to attract and retain the skilled, experienced guards we rely on to keep us safe,” Ms Walsh said.