Museum security guards fight for pay and conditions which aren’t stuck in the past

Outsourced security guards at the Natural History, Science, and Victoria and Albert (V&A) museums protect millions of visitors each year and deserve a fair pay rise. Faced with ongoing unfair treatment, they were forced to take historic and unprecedented strike action—the longest in the history of all three institutions.

“The refusal of Wilson James to offer security guards a decent wage in these harsh economic times is having a serious impact on our wellbeing. We have to work more days as overtime to make ends meet at the expense of our health and our families. Every member of the museum’s workforce, including the directors, have received a decent rise in their wages. So why not the security guards who work their socks off to ensure the safety of both people and property?”
Kingsley Ampofo, a UVW member and security guard at the Natural History Museum

UVW members that guard the Science, Natural History and Victoria and Albert (V&A) museums, in some cases for decades, are responsible for the safety of millions of people every year, as well as for protecting priceless exhibits.

Despite the importance of their work, they have faced substantial real-term pay cuts over the years, including six years of frozen wages.

In the first few years that Wilson James had the contract for security at the SM, NHM and V&A museums, from 2019-2021, their net profit doubled to over £7.6 million a year, whilst the pay of the security guards in the same period only increased by 1.2%.

Wilson James has repeatedly refused to negotiate with UVW, let alone pay the guards fairly.

The guards are fed up with their terms and conditions being stuck in the past and have been left with no choice but to vote to strike over the following demands: