SECURITY guards and cleaners at the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) are being balloted for strike action over pay, health and safety and redundancy terms.

The ballot of the 57 Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union members employed by outsourced ISS in Whitehall began today and ends on January 6.

Other outsourced PCS members working for ISS, G4S and OCS are already taking strike action throughout December and into January.

Over 40 ISS members employed as caterers, cleaners, post room staff and receptionists took five days of action last week, along with G4S members employed in central London Whitehall departments as security officers, pass office staff and receptionists.

PCS general secretary Fran Heathcote said: “Previous negotiations have seen us win concessions from ISS but they have not gone far enough.

“There is still time for ISS to resolve this issue and avoid costly strike action by agreeing to our demands.”

The DESNZ was contacted for comment.