Students watch as striking museum security guards march through South Kensington
Striking guards marched with placards and music through Imperial College Road
Members of the United Voices of the World (UVW) union marched through Imperial College Road at 6pm on Thursday 31st October. The strikers carried placards, banners and played music as student onlookers took videos of the procession.
Security guards are striking due to a pay dispute with their employer, Wilson James. Wilson James is contracted by both the Natural History and Science Museums to provide security services.
The UVW claims that they are facing a real term pay cut. Between October 2011 and October 2024, the cost of goods and services has risen by 64.7% according to calculations done by the UVW, compared to a cumulative pay increase of 30.2%. The security guards are also seeking statutory sick pay from day one of calling off sick. Across the UK, statutory sick pay is only offered after three days of illness.
“I’m here at the picket line today because in the last three years everything’s changed. Travel’s gone up, living costs have gone up, food prices, rent… everything’s gone up but our wages have stayed the same. I’m also striking for sick pay because we don’t get it for the first three days and it makes it very difficult to pay our bills if we get ill,” said a security guard at the picket, in a UVW press release.
A Wilson James Spokesperson said: “At Wilson James, we place the highest value on our colleagues’ contributions to protecting and enhancing visitor experiences at the Natural History and Science Museums. The safety of both our team members and the public are our top priority, and we are committed to maintaining a respectful and fair working environment. We offer competitive compensation to our employees and remain dedicated to fair and transparent negotiations. Throughout the year, we have been in negotiations with our recognised unions at the museums and are currently seeking to engage with UVW through a formal recognition agreement, to facilitate dialogue with their members about pay and working conditions.”
The strike action on 31st October was the fourth, and final strike that UVW workers will be enacting. Members of the union voted almost unanimously to strike between 25–27 October and 30 October – 1 November, with 96% in in favour of a strike, with turnout at 95%.
