Job centre security guards across the country - including in Kent - have taken to the picket line for the fourth time in a dispute over pay and conditions.

Members of the GMB union, which are employed by G4S, have walked out today (May 28) for 24 hours amid claims of a real-term pay cut that has seen 90% of them earn just the minimum wage.

Staff working at Chatham’s Jobcentre are holding a protest outside The Brook, opposite the Pentagon.

They have been joined by colleagues from neighbouring branches such as Maidstone.

A G4S spokesperson said it was “disappointed that the GMB has refused to take our improved pay offer to their members” and added it was trying to reach an “amicable agreement”.

One union member, who has worked in his security role for 13 years, said: “We put up with threats of violence, racial abuse, threats to our family.

“Myself and other guards have been attacked over the years – we want fair pay and our back pay.”

He expected 11 security guards from the Chatham branch to be on the picket line, alongside up to 16 from the Maidstone centre.

Eamon O’Hearn, GMB national officer, said: “These workers do a very dangerous, difficult job yet they are paid the same as the cleaners who don’t have to deal with terrifying hostility from some customers.

“Ninety per cent of these security guards earn just the minimum wage and can barely keep a roof over their heads.

“It’s shameful; G4S must do the decent thing and make these workers an offer they can live on.”

In response to safety concerns of the officer, G4S says any assault on security officers will not be tolerated and will result in police action.

According to G4S, it has made 12 pay offer to the GMB Union, but it has only taken two of these offers to their members to ballot on.

It also says its latest offer was a backdated 6.5% uplift and further increases on average of 9.3% in December 2023.

According to the union, G4S has been handed £211 million by the Department for Work and Pensions since December 2022, despite employment costs being just £161 during the same period.