Security Services

Posted on: 19 May 2026

Dear members,

Apologies for the delay in updating you all following the ballot to reject the pay freeze.

We had hoped to join GMB members in Loomis and G4S Cash in potential joint action against the pay freeze you're all experiencing.

However, when we analysed the results it became clear that not enough GMB members had participated so under our GMB rules we were unable to proceed with the potential joint action at this stage.

Since then GMB has been doing a lot of work behind the scenes, writing to both the Bank of England and SIA (both on our web board below) seeking their support in rebuilding the cash industry, though both of them have shirked the issue.

The failure of both the Bank of England and SIA to support members means we are going to widen the pressure and will be shortly surveying members to help us with this.

Finally, we have also asked each GMB Region to support the Loomis membership at Branch level in building pressure locally so we can raise the level of responses if we ballot again.

We know that the industry problems aren't going away and we will continue to build pressure because without reform the industry will still be broken next year and into the future.

Please feel free to send any comments, questions back to gmbactivist@gmb.org.uk especially if you'd like to get more involved at your Branch in challenging the pay freeze.

Yours in union,

GMB NATIONAL OFFICER

Posted on: 21 April 2026

Dear GMB members,

Please click the link to read GMB’s letter to the Bank Of England asking for an urgent meeting regarding the pay freeze. boe-letter-gmb-reply-20.04.26.pdf

Many thanks,

Eamon O’Hearn

GMB National Officer

Posted on: 2 April 2026

Dear members,

For the first time ever GMB members in G4S Cash and Loomis have voted to take industrial action across the industry.

As part of that campaign we have written the following letters to the:

• Bank of England; gs-to-boe-industry-issues-01.04.2026.pdf
• Minister of State (For Security);dan-jarvis-letter-02.04.26.pdf
• SIA; sia-ceo-letter-02.04.26.pdf

As we prepare to ballot members for legal industrial action across the industry, we are also raising your issues directly with Government and other agencies.

We are making clear to the Bank of England that the industry has been broken by Companies and customers, and it cannot be members that pay the price for their failings.

The SIA needs to take action to address the increase of risk that will come from pay freezes, as criminal elements look to exploit the situation, especially given the cost of living crisis that has exploded.

Lastly we're calling on the Government to hold the industry accountable and to support our work to establish a more sustainable industry.

We are pursuing meetings with both G4S Cash and Loomis, but we are also preparing for wider publicity and campaigning to ensure members receive a decent wage rise this year.

INDUSTRIAL ACTION - TYPES OF WORK BANS

Whilst we will ballot for members to take strike action, we will also look to identify different types of industrial action that aren't strikes that members can take to build pressure on the Companies.

We are seeking members' ideas for the type of work bans that we can take - we want more details than just 'work to rule', or an 'overtime ban', because members can choose to ban - or properly enforce - almost any work practice, procedure you can think of.

We want to collect as many ideas as possible so that we assess the widest range of options for members.

If you have any ideas of bans, please send them to your local GMB Rep or email: gmbactivist@gmb.org.uk

Thanks again for your support.

Yours in union,

GMB G4S Cash and Loomis Reps        GMB National Officer

Posted on: 20 March 2026

Dear members,

Thank you to those of you who voted in the recent ballot.

Members have returned a 99% rejection of the Company's proposed pay freeze and 92% support for industrial action.

We will update the Company and are holding a joint Loomis and G4S Cash Reps this Friday to plan next steps.

To date the Company have made no attempts to identify any measures to bring some sustainability back into the industry.

We will update members as we go on next steps.

Please ensure that colleagues are in GMB too so that we can look to protect the industry for all the workers.

Yours in union,

GMB National Loomis Reps        GMB National Officer

Posted on: 20 January 2026

Dear members,

GMB National Reps met with the Company this week to start pay talks for 2026 based on members’ claim of:

• 5.5% wage increase;
• 1.5 overtime rate and;
• 2 additional days leave.

It was a short meeting where the Company outlined elements of its financial performance in 2024, 2025 and forecasts for 2026, but did not table a formal offer.

GMB Reps had a number of questions relating to this information as well as the Company’s future plans given the current competition in the market.

They agreed to take away GMB questions for more information and will provide this ahead of our next meeting on Monday 2^nd February.

Following this meeting we aim to have an offer to take to members for a ballot.

In the meantime please share this update with colleagues, and ensure that they are members in order to have a vote and say on your 2026 pay.

They can join here: https://www.gmb.org.uk/join-gmb

Lastly please ensure that we have correct contact details for you – you can update your details online here: https://www.gmb.org.uk/

Yours in union,

GMB National Reps              GMB National Officer

Posted on: 28 November 2025

Dear members,

As advised on the notice below we have now submitted the joint pay claim.

Due to diary and Christmas, pay talks with Company will commence on 7^th January.

We will report back as usual following the talks with updates as appropriate.

Stay safe over the Christmas break and hope everyone gets time to relax.

Yours in union,

GMB National Reps & GMB National Officer

Posted on: 11 November 2025

Dear members,

Thank you for participating in the recent surveys and meetings for your pay claim.

Members feedback was for a strong pay rise and enhancements to terms and conditions.

We are aware that our members are still experiencing significant price pressures and want to keep ahead of cost of living increases.

On that basis the joint union Reps have come together to agree our joint claim for this year:

• A wage increase on salaries and allowances of 5.5%;
• Increased rates of overtime @ 1.5 per hour;
• increased holiday entitlement by 2 days.

We are expecting to commence talks in November and will keep members updated as talks progress.

Yours in union,

Joint Union Reps               Joint Union National Officers

Posted on: 9 January 2025

Dear members,

Firstly, we want to wish you all a happy New Year.

We hope that you and your families all had a safe and happy festive season.

To remind members that November 2024 inflation (CPI) was 2.6% meaning that as per the pay offer accepted by members you will receive a 4.6% increase from Jan 1^st.

We are also due to meet the Company next week as part of our regular National Negotiation Committee (NNC) arrangements.

The issues below that we have submitted for discussion have been based on member feedback and Rep experiences:

• Financial Update – including contract performance;
• Operations – Staffing levels/turnover rates;
• Disciplinaries – process confirmation and escalation steps; numbers across the Branches;
• Use/accessing of CCTV/Body Cam footage – current policy including controls;

If members have any other issues they’d like to flag, please let your local Reps know and we’ll see if they can be accommodated too:

Andree Bowen (Activist LON) Andree.Bowen@gmbactivist.org.uk;

Tariq Hussain tariqhussain_1@hotmail.com;

Jermaine Shaw jermaineshaw@hotmail.co.uk;

Following the NNC we’ll circulate an update once minutes are agreed.

Yours in union,

NNC Reps & GMB National Officer

Posted on: 8 January 2025

Dear members,

GMB has welcomed and increase in the use of cash, which saw nearly 33 million withdrawals made from its ATMs last year, a 4.6 per cent increase on 2023 and up almost 29 per cent on 2021’s figure of 25.4 million.

We have thousands of members employed in the cash industry, who provide safe and secure services across the country, which is why we have a longstanding policy position supporting Access to Cash in the UK economy.

We also want to avoid a digital divide that results in a two tier society of services, and the continuing use and acceptance of cash in the UK economy ensures all sectors of our society remain included.

Yours in Union,

GMB National Officer

https://www.theguardian.com/money/2025/jan/07/cash-makes-surprise-comeback-amid-46-annual-rise-in-atm-withdrawals

Posted on: 19 December 2024

Dear GMB member,

Firstly we hope that you are all well and that you’re looking forward to the festive season.

As part of the 2024 pay offer that was accepted by members (please see below) we want to update you on the wage rise for 2025.

Based on the November CPI inflation of 2.6%, your rise will be 4.6% from January 1^st 2025.

Final Formal Offer

• 1^st Jan 2024 – 3.5% and (this is up from the original 2%);

• 1^st Jan 2025 – CPI rate of inflation* plus additional 2% (capped at 5%).

• The pay deal includes all pay elements that are linked to the hourly rate i.e., overtime, shift allowance, bank holiday premiums.

* November 2024 inflation published by the ONS on 18 December 2024

Thank you again for your patience during the talks, we believe that this final pay rise reflects the strength and determination shown by you and your fellow members.

Lastly please remind any colleagues who are not in GMB that you have secured this rise for them and that to continue to strengthen in Loomis they can join GMB here: www.gmb.org.uk/join-gmb

Yours in union,

GMB NNC Reps                  GMB National Officer

Posted on: 11 September 2024

Dear members,

We want to thank all of you who voted on the further revised offer that was submitted by the Company.

Following a ballot through August the members have returned a 70% vote in favour of accepting the offer.

We understand that this has taken time and we thank members for your patience.

We are glad that members were finally made an offer that will ensure that they will not go backwards on pay, though we share the view that we want to see further improvements into the future, especially as the Company secures more business contracts.

The Company have been advised of the result so that the payroll process can include the back pay in the coming month’s pay.

Thanks again to you, your Reps and GMB colleagues for all their work on securing the offer and result.

Yours in Union,

GMB NNC & GMB National Officer

Posted on: 18 July 2024

Dear GMB member,

Firstly we want to thank you for your patience, following the rejection of the last offer and support for industrial action the Company sought a series of last ditch meetings to avoid any action.

As a result of these meetings the Company has tabled an enhanced two-year offer for members.

Final Formal Offer

• 1^st Jan 2024 – 3.5% and (this is up from the original 2%);
• 1^st Jan 2025 – CPI rate of inflation* plus additional 2% (capped at 5%).
• The pay deal includes all pay elements that are linked to the hourly rate i.e., overtime, shift allowance, bank holiday premiums.

* November 2024 inflation published by the ONS on 18 December 2024

REPS VIEW – OFFER IS RECOMMENDED

Your Reps welcomed the significant increase from 2% to 3.5% for 2024, with the increase being fully consolidated into members pay rate.

This is welcome and means that over the course of 2 years members should be in a stronger position than relying on a cash payment.

It will also give us a clear picture of the overall Company performance now that there have been new contracts secured in recent weeks.

We will be balloting at Branches from July 29^th to August 29^th, with the ballot closing midday, Thursday 29^th August.

Lastly any colleagues who are not in GMB can join to have their say on pay too: www.gmb.org.uk/join-gmb

Yours in solidarity,

GMB NNC          GMB NATIONAL OFFICER

Posted on: 9 July 2024

Dear members,

Firstly please accept my apologies for the delay in the next step of moving towards a legal industrial action ballot.

Once we were made aware of the new contracts and business won by the Company we were prepared to give them a chance to enhance their pay offer, and to avoid an industrial action process.

I have to apologise personally as I have been inundated with both the industrial action currently underway in G4S Security and national election, and have not pursued the last chance we offered the Company.

I have done so today and also begun the process of seeking agreement to take action.

I will ensure that an update is provided as soon as possible once this has commenced.

Once again please accept my apologies for the delay.

Yours in union,

Eamon O’Hearn

GMB National Officer

Posted on: 7 June 2024

Dear members,

Once again thank you for voting in the recent ballot on the revised pay offer submitted by the Company.

I can report that members returned a resounding rejection, with 80% rejecting the offer and endorsing industrial action.

This is a significant result and sends a clear message regarding the feeling of members being offered a real terms cut in pay for 2024.

We’ve notified the Company of the result and will now initiate our internal procedures to take this forward.

We will shortly outline what the timeline looks like and what members can expect going forward.

Once again thank you for your vote and patience to date.

Yours in union,

GMB NNC & GMB National Officer

Posted on: 17 May 2024

Dear members,

We’ve been alerted by members that some Managers are claiming that a deal on pay has already been signed off by GMB.

We can categorically say that there is no agreement.

Members alone will make the final decision on pay via the current ballot; not the NNC Reps, not your Regional local and not your National GMB Officer.

Once the ballot is complete we will inform members of the outcome.

Yours in union,

GMB NNC Reps & GMB National Officer

Posted on: 29 April 2024

Dear GMB member,

Following a series of meetings with the Company they have now tabled a two-year offer for members to consider:

Final Formal Offer

• 1^st Jan 2024 – 2% and;
• 1^st Jan 2025 – CPI rate of inflation* plus additional 2%.
• The pay deal includes all pay elements that are linked to the hourly rate i.e., overtime, shift allowance, bank holiday premiums.

* November 2024 inflation published by the ONS on 18 December 2024

Second Year examples:

• Nov 2024 CPI Inflation is 2% then pay award for Jan 2025 is 4% or;
• Nov 2024 CPI Inflation is 3% then pay award for Jan 2025 is 5% or;
• Nov 2024 CPI Inflation is 4% the pay award for Jan 2025 is 6% etc.

REPS' VIEW – OFFER IS RECOMMENDED AS BEST THAT CAN BE ACHIEVED VIA NEGOTIATION

The offer means members do not fall behind the cost of living across the two years, which is a welcome improvement from the original offers that cut your ‘real’ terms pay.

However, it also means that members are effectively standing still across the two years, with the gap to the National Living Wage getting smaller.

Members have previously returned a positive result for industrial action which will be actioned if the offer is rejected.

We will be balloting at Branches throughout May with a closing date of midday, Friday 31^st May.

Lastly any colleagues who are not in GMB can join to have their say on pay too: www.gmb.org.uk/join-gmb

Yours in solidarity,

GMB NNC and GMB NATIONAL OFFICER

Posted on: 12 March 2024

Dear GMB member,

Members have returned a 90% rejection to the Company offer of 2% for 2024 pay.

We had hoped that the Company would respond to the result by tabling a new offer, especially as the 2023 offer was well in excess of 2%, despite the Company being under greater financial stress last year.

We have now seen that they are not prepared to do so, and have increased the pay of those colleagues who are not covered by our negotiations.

On that basis we are now consulting members on their preparedness to take action in support of an enhanced offer.

The current offer means members falling further behind the cost of living, and competitors like G4S, and in the case of CMS members losing their differential with the NLW; these are skilled and crucial roles and worth far in excess of the NLW.

We will be balloting members over the coming few weeks with a closing date of midday Thursday 28th, March 2024.

Lastly please ensure that any colleagues who are not in GMB join so that they can have their say on pay too: www.gmb.org.uk/join-gmb

Yours in solidarity,

GMB NNC             GMB NATIONAL OFFICER

Posted on: 9 February 2024

Dear Members,

Thanks for participating in the recent ballot.

The Company offer of a 2% pay rise has been rejected by 90% of members.

We will now communicate that result formally to the Company and will be seeking an improved offer, before we contemplate next steps.

Many thanks again for your support.

Yours in union,

GMB National Reps and GMB National Officer

Posted on: 1 November 2023

Dear GMB member,

Thank you to everyone who completed our 2023/24 cost of living survey, the results of which will be used to develop our contribution to the 2024 Joint Trade Union pay claim.

What came through loud and clear was that members were being severely impacted by the cost of living crisis this past two years. Overwhelmingly members reported being at least £60, but in most cases £80 worse off a month, which is a significant amount for any worker.

Again when asked about an increase, members were clear that they didn’t want to go backwards again, so looking for an increase matched to the cost of living was crucial. We also don’t want to fall behind G4S Cash and, so far, we are given they secured an 8.5% pay rise last year.

Therefore we’re proposing that, similar to G4S Cash, the RPI inflation rate for October is the 2024 award, which also reflects the fact that inflation has remained stubbornly high this past year despite almost all projections last year suggesting it would be significantly lower throughout 2023.

Members also indicated that they wanted to see improvements on:

• Rates of overtime @ 1.5 per hour,
• Increased holiday entitlement by 2 days,
• Rates of bank holiday premium @ 2.0 per hour.

In advance of the pay talks we have also submitted a request for information on the Company's financial performance in order to challenge any issues regarding the ‘affordability’ of both your claim and any Company counter offer. We will keep members updated as talks progress.

Please share this bulletin and encourage any non-members to join www.gmb.org.uk/join-gmb

Yours in solidarity,

GMB NNC and GMB National Officer

Posted on: 28 July 2023

Dear members,

Thank you again to everyone who has given their feedback to GMB Reps and Officers regarding the Company’s proposed pension changes.

The Joint Trade Unions have been engaged in a series of online and face-to-face meetings with the Company where we have been working to challenge the proposals. Following these exchanges the Company has made adjustments to its proposals but not withdrawn them as we had argued.

The Joint Trade Unions are disappointed that the Company have maintained their cuts, especially after the feedback Reps gave on behalf of members. The final proposals have cuts to contribution rates that are less severe, but we know that it is still a cut.

Our proposal, that where the Company hits profit targets they will make additional payments, is not perfect, and we know many members are not convinced that the Company will meet these targets, but any additional future money will be welcome.

We understand that many members believe that this process is like taking with one hand, only to give back in pay talks later this year.

Turning to which, we will shortly begin consulting members on pay for 2023, and we have already warned the Company that these changes will likely influence the attitude of members towards pay in 2023.

Once again thank you for providing your feedback to your Reps, and we share the disappointment at where we have landed, however we want to begin to build for pay talks and taking your aspirations up with Company later this year.

Yours in union

GMB NNC Reps Eamon O’Hearn, National Officer

Posted on: 6 December 2022

Dear Colleague,

I wanted to update you on recent developments within the company.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS BALLOT

The result of the terms and conditions ballot were as follows:

Votes in favour 20%

Votes against 80%

As a result of this, the company have been informed that the changes have not been accepted. Feedback suggests that this is largely because members were of the view that the imposition of Sunday and Bank Holiday working was not worth the positive changes to overtime. This has been communicated to the company who are considering their position. Once we have more information about any response to this, we will let you know.

2023 PAY CLAIM

Following the pay surveys, GMB have submitted the following claim on behalf of our members working for the company.

• An above RPI inflation increase on all basic rates and salaries.
• An increase in call out payments which have not moved for ten years.
• An increase in the overtime rate to time and a half.
• Sunday working to be paid at time and a half.
• Double time payments for Bank Holidays.

We are due to meet the company on 10^th January to discuss this claim. We will keep you updated with regards to developments in negotiations.

Andy Prendergast

National Secretary

Posted on: 30 July 2022

Loomis have now written to the GMB to open a formal consultation to change your terms and conditions. The proposals are deeply concerning to the GMB and now you must have your say.

The GMB will soon be visiting your branch to discuss the proposals with you in more detail. We will share the date of the visit in advance, so you know when we are coming.

The full proposals are set out in the attached document. To summarise, they include:

1. Removal day one sick pay. Loomis want to implement 3 'waiting days' (unpaid) before sick pay is paid.
2. Cut to sick pay whereby only 4 weeks maximum can be paid in any one year. Currently staff with long service receive a maximum of 13 weeks after 10 years service.
3. Removal of 'Raid Pay'.
4. Sunday to be a normal working day. (Loomis claim this is current practise but the GMB does not support this view.)
5. Removal of guaranteed minimum of 8 hour days removed and replaced with a guarantee of a 40 hour week.
6. Rosters to be published with a minimum one weeks notice instead of the current 4.
7. Full time working week over 3,4,5 days - not the current 4 or 5.

As you can see, some of the current proposals are clearly unacceptable to your union, but we cannot challenge this without your support. Anyone that is not in the GMB must join now to protect your sick pay and what work / life balance you currently have left.

Once the GMB has consulted fully with staff, we will enter further negotiations with Loomis, after those negotiations you will get a workplace ballot on the final proposals. As key workers who have worked through the pandemic - your reward cannot be a job that gives you less and offers you a poorer work / life balance.

NADINE HOUGHTON

NATIONAL OFFICER

Posted on: 19 July 2021

Dear GMB member,

Loomis are offering £1,000 to new starters - where's yours?! Many of you will now know that Loomis are offering a £1,000 to new starters due to labour shortages hitting the market. But Loomis must not forget about the staff it has now. You have had your working conditions hit by the pandemic but now is the time to build back, Loomis can only do that with a committed and loyal workforce. That is why they must reward you - it's existing staff that have stuck by the company throughout the pandemic. We will be raising this with management.

Last week I said I would update you on some of the proposals from Loomis on terms and conditions changes. I am doing this so there is full transparency between the GMB NNC and our members. Like I said in my last bulletin, the GMB will not agree anything without a mandate from our members and we will not recommend any changes until a full consultation of the reps and members. If anything is not in our members’ interests, we will not be agreeing to it.

1. Roster to be published with 4 weeks’ notice - this is not something the GMB would currently support as it is detrimental to members work / life balance.
2. Removal of requirement to find volunteers to work Sundays and Bank Holidays-the GMB proposed that volunteers would bemore incentivised if enhancements were offered.
3. Working week to move from 4 or 5 days to 3, 4 or 5 - the GMB will seek views on this.
4. Removal of guarantee of 8-hour day to be paid and replaced with a guaranteed 40 hours pay for rostered week - the GMB will seek views on this.

The company have now indicated they would like to make formal proposals to the NNC, following this, the GMB will begin a full and thorough consultation process.

Please also be advised that your GMB convenor will be visiting sites now that restrictions have been lifted. He will be available at the following sites on the following dates:

Colchester - July 13th

Maidstone -July 15th

Dunstable - July 21

Exeter - 26th July

Newport - 27th July

Your convenor can be contact by emailing andree.bowen@gmb.org.uk or calling 07934 000 846 or 07785 609 754.

Many thanks.

NADINE HOUGHTON

NATIONAL OFFICER

Posted on: 5 July 2022

Dear GMB member,

I am writing to let you know that Loomis have approached the GMB to begin a consultation with us on potential changes to your terms and conditions.

Once we have a draft proposal to share with you, we will begin a full and thorough consultation with our membership. It is only after this consultation, and any further negotiations with the company, that we will even consider our position on the changes.

I want to be clear with you that the GMB will not agree to any changes to your terms and conditions without a full ballot of the GMB membership and we will not recommend any changes that we do not believe to be in our members’ best interests.

If you would like to be more involved in this process, either as a member or as an official workplace representative, please WhatsApp or text your name and branch to 07714239227.

I will write to you next week to outline some of the changes the company have put to us.

Your Loomis convenor will begin workplace visits in the coming weeks. If you would like a visit to your branch organised please email Andree at andree.bowen@gmbactivist.org.uk.

Many thanks.

NADINE HOUGHTON

NATIONAL OFFICER