ALIENATED: Peter says he will continue protesting “until MSS finally treats us with the respect we deserve”. Picture: Jodie Donnellan
BENDIGO security guard Peter stood in the rain dressed as an alien to mark 100 days of protesting against security contractor MSS’s wage and work conditions.
The 46-year-old Bendigo man said the green lycra outfit was a reference to how MSS was alienating its workers.
Peter, who does not want to reveal his last name, mans a picket line outside Bendigo’s Thales plant for 12 hours a day.
He fits his protesting around working 14 hours a week at Thales.
Peter has worn a series of outlandish costumes while protesting, including dressing as Elvis, Darth Vader and Santa Claus.
His strike is the latest in a long-running industrial dispute between MSS and its employees as workers demand equal pay to other security companies. Peter said he is paid about $3000 a year less than guards at other companies such as Wilsons Security and ISS.
Federal Labor candidate for Bendigo, Lisa Chester was also present to commemorate the 100-day milestone.
“He’s really raising the profile for how low security guards’ wages are,” she said.
