< News

12.06.2025 / News / Natural History, Science and V&A Museums

UVW security guards at London’s top museums secure major pay rises after sustained strike action

“Since we organised with UVW and stood up for ourselves, they’ve had to listen.” – Geoffrey, security supervisor and UVW member

Security guards at London’s top museums — the Natural History, Science, and Victoria & Albert (V&A) Museums — have won significant pay rises ranging from 13% to 23% after months of determined strike action and union organising with United Voices of the World (UVW). In just seven months, the guards won more than they had in the entire previous decade — with increases adding thousands of pounds annually to their salaries depending on seniority.

Since declaring a dispute in August 2024, the outsourced guards took over 50 days of strike action, including nearly daily walkouts in February, alongside high-profile pressure campaigns targeting their employer, security contractor Wilson James, and the museums themselves. The strike action also included visits to museum trustees’ offices, pushing the powerful institutions to take notice.

The pay rises mark a major breakthrough for workers who had suffered years of wage stagnation. Before the strike, many guards earned just £11.95 an hour — well below the LLW of £13.15 at the time. Wilson James delayed implementing the LLW and initially refused to backdate payments, despite doubling its profits to over £7.6 million between 2019 and 2021.

Geoffrey, a security supervisor at the Natural History Museum and UVW member, who has worked there since 2014, said: “Since we organised with UVW and stood up for ourselves, they’ve had to listen. Before our fight and our win, we didn’t feel as if we were worth anything, but now you feel you’re worth something. You are being recognised as a human being. That made me very happy.”

Catherine, a security officer at the Science Museum aded: “With UVW, we put up a massive fight and won more in seven months than in years. We protested in the streets, went to trustees’ offices, and stood up for ourselves across all three museums. It showed what’s possible when you’re united. We’re proud of what we achieved, but we know the fight isn’t over. The cost of living keeps going up, and pay needs to keep up too. We can’t let them drop the ball.”

The museums have reported record visitor numbers and income. The Natural History Museum saw nearly 6 million visitors in 2023-24, with income rising to £135.5 million. The Science Museum reported record profits and the highest unrestricted income in five years. The museum group’s overall funds grew to £659.3 million, with reserves increasing to £95.8 million.

Despite these record-breaking figures, guards were left behind with six years of frozen wages and low pay until they took collective action. The recent pay rises represent a significant step forward but also highlight the ongoing need to improve conditions and ensure fair treatment for all outsourced workers.

This victory is a powerful example of what can be achieved through solidarity, organisation, and sustained pressure — proving that workers at even the most prestigious cultural institutions can win better pay and dignity when they stand together.

SHARE