Quote:Rather then companies going in and winning contracts purely on price perhaps they should all get together and set a minimum standard
This is actually illegal. It's goes against the principles of a competitive market place and install a monopoly like situation. Dept of Fair Trading would tear the companies apart that tried to do this.
The companies need to make a stance as to what they're going to be. Are they going to be legit, and quote accordingly or are they going to be shifty and play on the ignorance of a lot of security guards who are prepared to accept their illegal wages.
The companies that choose to be legit, pay correctly would then naturally look after their guards that provide their product (service) to the best possible level. This would allow said company to be slightly more expensive, but a more appealing option as they can go ahead and guarantee their standard of service confident they have the guards to back it up.
Companies like SNP right now are complaining they need to quote so low and it's a cut throat market, but then they sub contract to the illegal contractors who then put sub standard guards who simply cannot provide the service their tender alluded to. As such, customers get disillusioned, their name which they trade on becomes worth mud and guards move to work somewhere else where they can feel they are part of something legitimate.
The companies are not going to break this cycle however without the pressure from the guards being put on them to increase wages and simply avoid the companies who pay the illegal wages.
It's a service based industry. Without the guards, the companies have nothing to sell unless they want to only focus on non manpower avenues and lets face it, all the money in the market for security right now is in manpower. It's recurring, it's not a one off charge with small chance of continuing patronage.
Join a union. Contact the FWO. Make a noise and change it rather than just complain about it.