Bríd Smith Questions Government Over Security Workers' Blocked Pay

Bríd Smith addressed the Tánaiste about a blocked wage increase for security workers and challenged a government change to licensing rules. She criticised that top security had blocked a meagre cost of living increase for 21 months and asked what strategy exists to protect low-paid workers.

Wage increase and court action

Bríd Smith said top security who blocked a meagre wage increase for security workers for the last 21 months will be in court, with the attempt to continue to block that cost of living increase, which would bring security workers, all 15,000 of them, up to 1290 per hour.

Working conditions described

She described the work of security staff as one of the most dangerous, most anti-social and toughest jobs in the country and noted there are workers who worked right through COVID. She argued that the proposed rise was modest and "not exactly a king's ransom" for those workers.

Licence rule change questioned

Bríd Smith asked why the government changed the rules around issuing licences to private security firms by removing the clear demand that any private security firm complies with the state's employment regulatory order in order to get their licence. She said, in her view, the employer should adhere to the employment regulation order, but the government has allowed them not to.

Calls for protections for low-paid workers

She pressed the Tánaiste for a strategy to protect low-paid workers from what she described as vicious attacks by employers that prevent them earning a decent living. She said she will return to the issue and stated any measures to ensure adherence to the employment regulatory order will be pursued.