Security guards at Kensington’s blue-chip museums rebel over ‘derisory’ pay offers

By Adrian Zorzut, Local Democracy Reporter

Security guards at the Science and Natural History museums have threatened to strike over what they described as a “disrespectful and demoralising” pay offer from their employer, a union representing them has said.

The workers are balloting on whether to start industrial action next month.

A union representing the guards said the latest offer of £13.15 an hour by their employer and security contractor Wilson James, which is in line with last year’s London Living Wage, was “too little, too late” and below last year’s inflation rate of 11 per cent. Instead, they want £16 an hour and sick pay which kicks in the moment they are absent from work.

Their guards currently earn £11.95 an hour and are not eligible for sick pay until the fourth day of the absence, said the union United Voices of the World (UVW). They are also demanding a bump in annual leave and compassionate leave.

If the ballot is successful, guards plan to take to the picket line on intermittent dates between October 21 this year and April 3, 2025.

Security guards who are members of UVW, some of whom have worked at the museums for decades, said the dispute was having an impact on their well-being.

Science Museum security guard Catherine Campbell said: “I feel demoralised and sad that I’ve not had a proper pay rise.

“I’ve been a security guard for 13 years here and I’m also a fully trained first aider. This can be stressful to deal with. I am always happy to help and do my best but I believe this level of responsibility should be reflected in my salary.”

Her colleague Bayo Owolabi said: “It’s quite disrespectful and demoralising that security guards are the lowest-paid staff in the Science Museum. The rising cost of rent, energy, groceries, and transport has made it hard to make ends meet.”

Kingsley Ampofo, a security guard at the Natural History Museum, said he has to work overtime to make ends meet.

UVW’s general secretary Petros Elia said many of the guards, who are mainly migrant workers, protect millions of visitors every year and should not be the lowest paid at the museums.

He said the museums’ decision to outsource its security work made guards feel like “second class workers” and is calling for the service to be brought back in house.

A Wilson James spokesperson said: “We highly value our employees and are committed to fair and transparent negotiations. We are actively engaged in conversations with our colleagues and formally recognised trade union representatives at [both] museums and remain dedicated to seeking an effective pay resolution.”

Pictured top: Inside the Natural History Museum (Picture: Pixabay/Public Co)