Security guards at Natural History and Science museums to strike over half-term

Outsourced security guards at the Natural History and Science museums will walk out for six days of strike action in a dispute over pay and conditions.

The workers, represented by the United Voices of the World (UVW) union, are set to strike during the school half-term, including the weekend of October 25 to 27 and again from October 30 to November 1, coinciding with Halloween. 

Security guards at the two South Kensington museums have had “significant real-terms pay cuts for years” and are now among the lowest-paid workers at the museums, according to UVW.

The workers, many of whom are migrants, balloted for strike action last month, with 96 per cent of the 95 per cent turnout supporting the action. 

Charles Fuller, Natural History Museum security guard for 19 years and UVW member said: “Being the guardians of culture and history is a great responsibility, and we are always ready for the task. 

“I myself am a Behavioural Detection Officer — yet we are the lowest paid staff in the building. 

“Housekeeping, retail, visitor assistance…they all earn more than us. 

“All the guards are dedicated to the museum and respect all the staff and managers, but we feel unappreciated. We’ve been saying this for the last 10-12 years. 

“This is about fairness and providing for our families.”

Union members are asking for a wage of £16 an hour and full sick pay. The union said workers currently only get sick pay from day four of an illness absence.

Workers currently earn £11.95 per hour, 51p above the minimum wage, which was the London Living Wage in 2022.

UVW said their wages are set to be increased to the current London Living Wage of £13.15 per hour, which was introduced in October 2023. 

But, the guards describe the increase as “too little, too late”. Their last wage rise – 4.5 per cent – was more than a year ago and came in substantially below inflation at the time which was 11 per cent.

The security guards are outsourced to contractor Wilson James. The contract for providing security guards to the museums, who are part of a consortium with the Victoria & Albert Museum, was worth more than £63million at the point of tender, according to UVW.

The union said Wilson James and the museums have refused to negotiate with the security guards and their union. 

Petros Elia, general secretary for UVW, said: “Whilst our members wages stagnated and saw nominal increases, Wilson James’ profits were skyrocketing. This is no coincidence and it is time that the security got a fair share of the pie.”

A Wilson James spokeswoman said the company values the security guards and recognise their “vital contributions” to protecting the museums. 

She said: “We will do everything we can to maintain service and ensure the safety, comfort, and satisfaction of families and children excited to visit the museums during half term.

“Throughout the year, we have been in negotiations with our recognised unions at the museums, and in September reached an agreement to increase Security Officers’ pay to £13.15 per hour backdated to April 2024, in line with our commitments as a London Living Wage accredited employer.”

Pictured top: The Natural History Museum in South Kensington (Picture: Google Street View)