Concerns over defence guard privatisation


The proposed privatisation of the Ministry of Defence Guard Service (MGS) will lead to a drop in standards and training with adverse repercussions for the security of such sites as the nuclear bases at Faslane and Coulport in Scotland, the Unite general union says.


More than 2,000 MGS guards currently provide unarmed security for more than 100 Ministry of Defence (MOD) sites. However, according to Unite national officer Mike McCartney: “Employment conditions, training and standards could be compromised in ‘a race to the bottom’ by a private company keen to maximise profit.”


Unite believes that this is not a cost saving exercise, but merely a ruse so the MoD can meet the government’s target to axe 30% cent of the civilian workforce across the whole of the MoD.

www.unitetheunion.org/how-we-help/list-of-sectors/mod-and-government-departments/stop-the-commercialisation-of-the-mod-guard-service

www.pcs.org.uk/news/fears-over-privatisation-of-nuclear-guards