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31.10.2024 / News / Natural History and Science Museums
“I’m here at the picket line because my colleagues and UVW had no choice. We’ve felt ignored and undermined for so long, we had to make a stand. There was no other option. Being on strike is an empowering experience and you win confidence. There’s a lot of people supporting you, different trade unions, MPs speaking, members… Others should make a stand too. It’s not impossible. It can be done.“
Bayo Owolabi, museum guard on strike
On Saturday 26 October, UVW staged its largest-ever picket, with over 300 striking security guards and supporters gathering outside the Natural History and Science Museums.
This historic turnout came in solidarity with security guards on strike, demanding a living wage of £16 an hour, sick pay from day one, and basic respect on the job. Supporters travelled from across the UK and even from overseas to join this fight for fairness, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with the guards who have been pushing back against exploitation and precarity within some of London’s most prestigious institutions. After the picket, the guards and their supporters marched through central London as the migrant workers’ bloc of the anti-fascist mobilisation against Tommy Robinson and his far-right supporters. “The picket is huge. It empowers everybody!” said UVW rep and striker Bayo.
With banners flying high, a broad coalition of allies turned out to support the guards, including IWGB union, PCS union, London IWW, RMT union, BECTU, UCU, Goldsmiths UCU, Parents for Palestine and many more. Zack Polanski, the deputy leader of the Green Party, came out again in his continued support for our members’ fight. From Black Lives Matter UK to Poetry on the Picket Line, supporters made clear that when migrants and low-paid workers rise, we all rise together.
“It’s been too long that we haven’t had a decent pay”, said Evariste Gomis, a Science Museum guard on strike, as he stood side by side with his colleagues on the picket line.”With inflation it’s very difficult to keep up with the rents, paying for food, gas, electricity bills. It’s very very difficult for us, that’s why we are here standing all together asking our company, Wilson James, to help us by paying us £16 per hour, which will be very helpful. I hope they will hear us today and come to the negotiating table with UVW.”
The guards, employed by outsourcing company Wilson James, have faced chronic underpayment, leaving many struggling to make ends meet while working demanding jobs. Despite the essential role they play in keeping these world-renowned museums safe, these workers have for years endured poorer pay than directly employed staff.
“I’m here at the picket line today because in the last three years everything’s changed. Travel’s gone up, living costs have gone up, food prices, rent… everything’s gone up but our wages have stayed the same. I’m also striking for sick pay because we don’t get it for the first three days and it makes it very difficult to pay our bills if we get ill,” Naomi Molnar told us.
“It’s a struggle (living in London on a low wage). You have to do overtime, unsociable hours… It’s tough, especially if you’ve got family. Energy bills are off the roof… ” added Bayo, who had never been on strike before, like his colleagues.
“It’s my first time ever on strike but we had to do this – particularly to address the low pay and sick pay – because we are always having to ask people to help us with our bills – especially if we get sick – and this is not nice, it’s not quality of life at all” Naomi continued.
The workers, most of them migrants, overwhelmingly voted to strike with 96% in favour out of a 95% turnout. They walked out over half term, between the 25 – 27 of October and 30 October and 1 November, the busiest week of the year for the museums.
Despite the crucial nature of their work, they have faced significant real-terms pay cuts over the years, including six years of frozen wages. In the early years of Wilson James holding the security contracts for the Science Museum, Natural History Museum, and V&A Museum, from 2019-2021, the company’s net profit doubled to over £7.6 million annually, while security guards’ wages rose by only 1.2% in the same period. The museums themselves generate millions in profit each year.
“I’ve been working at the Science museum for three years. Our pay hasn’t increased and everything is going up – energy, food, transport, bills… – and we are struggling, we have no dignity, we can’t have a proper life. You have to count every penny every day to make sure you can pay your rent next month. We are asking for a raise that is fair – £16 an hour is not that much if you compare with their millionaire profits. The strike was a big step but I’m very proud of all of us being here now”, Cristina Martin Novo, a striking security guard said.
This powerful show of solidarity is only the beginning. The guards were back on the picket line on Halloween night as part of their second round of strikes from 30 October to 1 November. With each picket, the call for justice grows louder, and we urge everyone to stay tuned, stand united and support the fight for a living wage and fair treatment for all workers.
“This was my first time in a picket and I’m very proud of my colleagues and I want to thank UVW for all the support,” Evariste told us. ‘(To other workers in a similar situation) I’d say: Guys it’s time to stand up for your rights because if you don’t you, get nothing. So let’s stand up for our rights. It’s scary at the beginning but it’s worth it.”
“Being on strike has been an empowering experience because you win confidence. There’s a lot of people supporting you, different unions, trade unions, MPs speaking, members… so others should make a stand too. It’s not impossible. It can be done.“ concluded Bayo.
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