Whitehall cleaners and security guards suspend strike after fresh pay offer

Cleaners, security guards and workers in Whitehall have suspended strike action planned for Monday after receiving an improved pay offer and other benefits.

Members of the Public and Commercial Services union (PCS) employed by outsourcing giant ISS at the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero were due to take five days’ action after the weekend.

But after intensive talks with management and the Government resulted in improved offers, the union said there was room to potentially negotiate a final deal.

PCS general secretary Fran Heathcote said: “While we’re pleased to have received an improved offer from the employer, the Government must deliver its pre-election promise of bringing about the biggest wave of insourcing of public services in a generation.

“They should start by bringing this ISS contract in-house and ending the two-tier workforce.”