British guards in Iraq may quit over pay

BAGHDAD, May 27 (UPI) -- British security guards who work at embassies and act as diplomatic body guards in high-risk zones in Iraq may refuse to work next month due to pay cuts.

Dozens of private security firms that do the most dangerous assignments in Iraq were hired at high pay rates, but with more firms competing, salaries have been reduced, The Times of London reported.

A senior leader who used to earn $631 a day will now earn $511. A second in command will lose more than one-third of his daily rate.

The Times reported there was widespread support for a walkout on June 24.

http://www.politicalgateway.com/news/read/15707

First, they want the army to be cheap, so they hire mercenaries. Now, the mercenaries (who are there for the money) face pay cuts.

Cheap, cheap, cheap. The very reason Halliburton gave the U.S. soldiers contaminated water to brush their teeth. Everyone wants higher profits.

The first strike by military mercenaries is planned in Iraq next month in a pay dispute which could leave diplomats without bodyguards and supply convoys without armed escorts.

Hundreds of British employees of Control Risks Group (CRG), one of the scores of private security companies in the country, are being urged to resign en masse in protest against pay cuts of between 19% and 37% for frontline staff.

Between 15,000 and 20,000 former soldiers from the UK, the US, South Africa, Nepal, Fiji, France, Germany and the Balkans are operating as mercenaries on government contracts which free regular coalition troops for other duties.

The Foreign Office spent £110m on security in the first three years of the occupation. It is trying to cut costs and has renewed CRG's contract only by forcing the firm to agree to reduced terms. This cut has been passed on to its 450 ex-military close-protection staff ..

http://www.theherald.co.uk/news/62900.html

...could leave diplomats without bodyguards and supply convoys without armed escorts...

I'll bet the diplomats without bodyguards get action.

Supply convoys without armed escorts. Is that good for our soldiers? Are they relying on people who may go on strike, instead of relying on fellow soldiers because Rummy & Co. wanted to outsource the army?

christ!

but mercenaries can go fuck themselves for all i care.

and any money that the contractors take off the top is wasted government spending.

:headbang:
rocknation

Surely the diplomats and politicians don't need private security anymore.


:sarcasm: