Security guards at the Science Museum, the Victoria and Albert Museum and the Natural History Museum are stepping up their demands for better pay with a month-long strike. Due to run every day from 1 to 28 February the union behind the planned action, United Voices of the World (UVW), has described the action as “unprecedented” and “the longest strike in the history of all three institutions” .
UVW says that about 100 of its members work as security guards at the three museums, all of whom are employed by the external contractor Wilson James. Security guards at the Young V&A Museum in Bethnal Green, east London, and the V&A East Museum in Stratford have also joined the dispute.
“The workers, who are outsourced to private security contractor Wilson James, are fighting for a pay rise to £16 per hour, sick pay from day one, and full parity with directly employed museum staff, including more annual leave and an annual bonus,” says a UVW statement. The union has urged the public to support its members by not visiting the museums while the next strike is on.
In a statement, a Wilson James spokesperson said that strike action will only take place over a “couple” of hours each day, going on to highlight that the company offers “competitive compensation” and is seeking a resolution that “balances fair pay with the need to remain financially responsible”. The spokesperson added: “We respect the right to strike, whilst remaining confident that we will continue to deliver excellent service to the museums and their visitors throughout this period of industrial action...We continue to engage with UVW, seeking to formalise a recognition agreement that will support finding a resolution that is fair for all.”
Previous strike action took place earlier this month. UVW has also launched a series of legal claims against Wilson James.