Security guards at V&A museum ballot to strike in dispute over pay
Security guards at the Victoria and Albert (V&A) museum will vote on strike action in a dispute over pay and working conditions.
The outsourced security guards at the V&A are calling for £16 an hour, full sick pay from day one, and an additional week of annual leave.
If the ballot is successful, strike action will take place between November 22 and December 6, in the first ever industrial action by the museum’s guards.
Edi Palale, a V&A guard of 15 years and UVW member, said: “We’ve been let down. We work in the same building, for the same corporation as the directly employed staff, everyone should be paid and treated fairly.”
The V&A ballot follows previous strike action at the Natural History and Science Museums, which saw guards walk out for six days during the school half-term and Halloween.
Their picket on October 26, gathered more than 300 security guards and supporters, including politicians, trade unions and members of the public.
Security guards at the three South Kensington museums are outsourced to security contractor Wilson James (WJ).
UVW members at the three museums are demanding a pay rise after being offered what they describe as an “insulting” increase to £13.15 an hour in August 2023, up from £11.95 per hour.
The union said this raise “failed to address years of stagnant wages and real-terms pay cuts”, including two separate three-year periods of frozen wages.
Although the London Living Wage (LLW) has recently risen to £13.85 per hour, UVW said Wilson James has refused to implement the rise or backdate the previous LLW of £13.15 to November 2023—when it was first announced.
According to UVW, Wilson James will not engage in pay negotiations despite several invitations from the union.
Petros Elia, general secretary for UVW, said: “With the V&A Museum security guards joining their colleagues from the Natural History and Science Museums, the dispute is escalating significantly and shows no signs of abating.
“No matter how much Wilson James and the museums try to ignore our members’ demands for fair pay and respect, the fight continues and grows stronger.
“If the company and the museums are serious about avoiding further strikes, they should do the right thing and give the guards – many of whom have worked there for decades – what they’re asking for.”
A Wilson James spokeswoman said: “At Wilson James, we place the highest value on our colleagues’ contributions to protecting and enhancing visitor experiences at the V&A.
“The safety of both our team members and the public are our top priority, and we are committed to maintaining a respectful and fair working environment.
“We offer competitive compensation to our employees and remain dedicated to fair and transparent negotiations. Throughout the year, we have been in negotiations with our recognised unions at the museums and are currently seeking to engage with UVW through a formal recognition agreement, to facilitate dialogue with their members about pay and working conditions.”
The V&A have been approached for comment.
Pictured top: The Victoria and Albert Museum central garden in South Kensington (Picture: Wikimedia Commons/ Diliff)