A union, the United Voices of the World (UVW), has issued a warning to a company, Wilson James, regarding potential legal action if the company tries to undermine the planned strike action by its workers. The strike involves security guards at the Natural History and Science museums in South Kensington who have been facing significant pay cuts over the years, making them some of the lowest-paid workers at the museums. The security guards, many of whom are migrants, have voted for strike action with overwhelming support.
The UVW has raised concerns that Wilson James may try to bring in agency workers from BMSL to cover for the striking security guards. This move would violate the law that prohibits agencies from supplying workers to replace employees involved in official industrial action. Despite attempts in the past to lift this ban by the Conservative Government, the High Court reinstated the ban in August 2023 following a successful judicial review by a coalition of 13 trade unions.
In response to the potential breach of regulations, UVW has enlisted legal experts, including counsel Richard O’Keefe and Alex Benn, to address the matter. The Public Interest Law Centre (PILC) has emphasized the importance of upholding the right to strike and the consequences for employers who unlawfully employ strike breakers. The legal director of PILC, Paul Heron, has called on Wilson James and BMSL to comply with the law and refrain from using agency workers to undermine the strike.
Wilson James, on the other hand, has stated that they take UVW’s threat of legal action seriously but maintain that their actions are within the bounds of the law. The company asserts that they are committed to lawful employment practices and ensuring a safe and respectful environment for all staff, stakeholders, and museum visitors.
Overall, the dispute between the union and the company highlights the ongoing struggles faced by workers in securing fair pay and working conditions. The legal battle underscores the importance of upholding the right to strike and preventing employers from circumventing regulations to undermine workers’ rights. The outcome of this conflict will have implications for the broader labor movement and the protection of workers’ rights in the future.
