| What: | Security Guards at Casey Hospital and Victorian public housing sites will walk off the job and march to Parliament to demand fair pay and safety standards. |
| When: | Thursday 2 October 2025
2:00pm: Press conference with hospital guard, housing guard and Nick Richardson, United Workers Union Property Services Co-ordinator. 4:30pm: Guards from Casey Hospital and housing sites meet at Fitzroy Housing Office, 90 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy ahead of march to Parliament. |
| Where: | Press conference: United Workers Union offices, 833 Bourke Street, Docklands
Rally: Fitzroy Housing Office, 90 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy |
| Who: | United Workers Union security guards and union representatives. |
Victorian Security guards who protect doctors, nurses, patients, public housing residents, and wider communities are stepping up their campaign for fair pay that acknowledges the difficult, dangerous work they do.
MSS security guards working across critical sites in Victoria say they are expected to bear violence and unsafe conditions but continue to be paid less than they are worth and ignored by their employer and the state government.
At Casey Hospital, MSS guards are paid up to $500 less a fortnight than guards employed directly by Monash Health, despite doing the same work with the same risks.
Housing guards are demanding a $2-an-hour allowance to bring their rates in line with other government-employed security guards. They say MSS and Homes Victoria have consistently failed to consult them about safety on sites, leaving both guards and residents exposed.
On Thursday October 2, striking guards from Casey Hospital and housing sites will march to Parliament House to deliver petitions to Health Minister Mary- Anne Thomas and Housing Minister Harriet Shing, demanding urgent government action to push MSS to the table.
Guards employed by MSS provide protection across hospitals and essential public services. Despite their critical role and the dangerous situations, they confront, their pay remains too low for the risks they face.
Quote attributable to guard and United Workers Union member Saad:
“Our jobs are very dangerous. Guards are unarmed and face physical violence, threats and the guards do not feel safe when they are at work.
“But still, we do the job. MSS is harassing the guards to do more which is not possible.”,
Quote attributable to Casey Hospital guard and United Workers Union member Matt:
“We want respect from our client and just better working conditions.”
“We are protecting doctors, nurses, patients and the public – our work is essential, but our pay does not reflect that.”