'We haven't had pay rise in two years'

JOBCENTRE SECURITY GUARD STRIKES CITING IMPACT OF RISE IN COST OF LIVING

- IMOGEN CLYDE-SMITH

A JOBCENTRE security guard has said he ‘can’t afford to retire’ and is ‘struggling’ to pay his mortgage after not receiving a pay rise in two years.

Christopher Loftus, who works at the Jobcentre on Union Street, Oldham, and is a member of the GMB Union, is one of more than 1,400 security guards across the UK employed by the security company G4S who have walked out this week in a dispute over pay.

The 64-year-old said: “It’s been well over two years with no pay rise and we’re on basic pay. Everything’s gone up but the wages haven’t gone up. I’ve been doing this job since 2009.”

On what impact getting a pay rise would have, Christopher, from Oldham, said: “Financially I’d be better off - I could pay my mortgage, I’m struggling to pay that at the minute. I can’t even afford to retire.”