Outsourced security guards at the Natural History and Science museums have voted to go on strike due to a disagreement over their pay and working conditions. The United Voices of the World (UVW) union has stated that the security guards have been experiencing significant pay cuts in real terms for several years and are currently some of the lowest-paid workers at the museums.
Many of the security guards, who are migrants, feel that their hard work and sacrifices are not being recognized. They often work long hours, sometimes until midnight or 2am, because they struggle to afford the high cost of living in the UK. They are asking for a wage increase to £16 per hour and full sick pay, as currently, they only receive sick pay from the fourth day of an illness absence.
Despite a recent increase in wages to the London Living Wage of £13.15 per hour, the security guards feel that this raise is insufficient. Their last wage increase was over a year ago and did not keep up with the high inflation rate at the time. The guards believe that they deserve better pay and working conditions for the vital role they play in ensuring the safety of visitors and valuable artifacts at the museums.
The security guards are employed by contractor Wilson James, who has a significant contract with the museums. The union claims that Wilson James and the museums have been unwilling to negotiate with the security guards and the UVW union. UVW’s general secretary, Petros Elia, has called for the museums to bring the security guard roles in-house to ensure fair treatment and better pay for the workers.
In response to the strike action, a spokesperson for Wilson James stated that they value their colleagues at the museums and have been in negotiations with the recognized unions to increase the Security Officers’ pay to £13.15 per hour, in line with being a London Living Wage accredited employer.
While the Science Museum has been approached for comment, the Natural History Museum has declined to provide a statement on the matter. The security guards are determined to fight for better pay and working conditions, emphasizing the importance of their role in safeguarding the museums and their visitors.
