Security officers and IWGB members at UCL last week received letters suggesting that outsourcing company Axis was preparing to break the agreed terms of furlough. In response the union has contacted both the University and Axis to hold them to their promises – both letters are below:

To whom it may concern

Today, 8 June,  some of our members employed by your security subcontractor, AXIS, have been informed that from 1st of June they will only receive 80% of their wages. 

We would like to raise several points here:

UCL has stated publicly and in writing that they will continue to provide 20% of the wages of Security officers to ensure full payment of the salary. We have already notified them of your intention to reduce the pay of officers, despite the fact that the government continues to cover 80% of wages and UCL is providing the remaining 20%. This also raises questions with regards to what AXIS is doing with the money that is provided by the client to top-up wages.

I would also like to highlight that the unilateral amendment of the terms of Furlough is unlawful and amounts to a breach of contract. Please note that at no point officers have agreed to have their salaries reduced to 80%. 
In the Furlough Letter, included below, our members accepted to be placed on Furlough with full payment. At no point was consent provided to alter the terms mentioned in the letter. Any change therefore amounts to a breach of the contractual terms of Furlough, and we shall not hesitate to initiate legal proceedings to enforce the terms of the agreement.

Having said that, please immediately confirm that Security Officers will continue to receive full payment of their wages.

Regards

Jordi Lopez-Botey (IWGB Organiser/Caseworker, UoL Branch)

Dear Matthew

I hope this email finds you well.

Today, 8 June, some of our members employed by your security subcontractor, AXIS, have been informed that from 1st of June they will only receive 80% of their wages. (letter attached here).

Please immediately clarify this situation and confirm that Security Officers at UCL will continue to receive full payment of their wages (at 100%).

Regards

Jordi Lopez-Botey (IWGB Organiser/Caseworker, UoL Branch)