20.07.2026 / Press releases / Natural History, Science and V&A Museums

Science Museum security guards win up to 30% pay restoration after two years of organising and strikes 

• Outsourced security guards at the Science Museum have secured a new pay deal, achieving pay restoration of up to 30% with United Voices of the World (UVW), alongside winning attendance allowance for all workers.  

• Since joining the union, workers have won successive pay increases, the latest of which culminates two years of sustained negotiations and industrial pressure. The workers balloted for strike earlier this year. 

• The workers took more than 50 days of strike action across 2024 and 2025, alongside colleagues at the Victoria and Albert Museum and Natural History Museum. 

The pay restoration follows years of below-inflation increases and pay freezes, which left outsourced security staff employed by security contractor Wilson James falling behind despite protecting some of Britain’s most prestigious cultural institutions.  

The latest agreement, reached in July 2026, raises pay to £14.80 per hour, plus a 25p hourly attendance allowance – taking workers’ pay over the London Living Wage (LLW). 

Attendance allowance is now paid to all workers, ending the previous system where only those who completed training in their own time were eligible.  

Throughout 2024 and 2025, the outsourced security guards repeatedly walked out in defence of fair pay and dignity at work, winning substantial pay increases and securing trade union recognition. The workers also balloted for strike again earlier this year.  

The latest 2026 campaign unfolded against the backdrop of the controversial dismissal of three Duty Security Managers at the Victoria and Albert Museum earlier this year. The workers — including a union representative and prominent strike leaders — believe they were subjected to sham redundancies because of their trade union activity following last year’s successful industrial action. Legal proceedings are ongoing. 

While welcoming the latest agreement, workers say the campaign is not over. They will continue organising to secure further improvements to sick pay, annual leave, overtime and enhancements for unsocial hours, alongside better working conditions and continued respect and dignity at work. 

Catherine Campbell, Security Guard at Science Museum, said: 

“After two years of organising and strike action, we’re proud of what we’ve achieved together. But this isn’t the finish line. We’ll keep building our union and pushing for the pay, conditions and dignity that every worker deserves.” 

Nelly Ospino, UVW’s General Secretary, said:  

“Sustained pressure from the guards has won them another significant pay rise in less than two years.  For years, they were expected to protect some of Britain’s wealthiest cultural institutions while being paid poverty wages themselves. This victory was not handed down out of goodwill; workers had to fight for every penny of it. In a matter of months, UVW members have won more through organising and militancy than they had in the previous decade. 

These museums generate millions, while the outsourced workers who keep them running have long struggled on poverty pay. The message from museum security guards is simple: if you want dignity, better pay, and respect, you have to organise and fight for it.” 

For further information, contact the UVW communications team:
      

Cristina: 07548 759340  

Isabel: 07706 987443      

Email: comms@uvwunion.org.uk      

About UVW         

United Voices of the World (UVW) is a grassroots union representing low-paid, insecure, and predominantly migrant and BAME workers, including cleaners, concierges, couriers, carers, and hospitality staff across London.        

ENDS 

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