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14.01.2025 / Press releases /

Science, Natural History and V&A museum security guards strike continues in January as contractor faces lawsuits

  • Over 100 outsourced security guards at the Science Museum, Natural History Museum and Victoria and Albert Museum, all members of United Voices of the World (UVW), will strike again from Friday 17 January to Monday 20 January, bringing the total strike days to 22 in three months. They demand fair pay, sick leave and respect
  • This strike coincides with three legal claims against their employer, security contractor Wilson James, for race and disability discrimination, victimisation, unlawful pay cuts, and blacklisting. UVW commenced these claims on behalf of security guards involved in recent strikes
  • The legal cases highlight the mistreatment of workers at Wilson James. UVW expects further claims to arise as the dispute escalates.

Outsourced guards at these world-renowned museums have already taken 18 days of strike action in five stoppages since October. They are committed to continuing in 2025 until their demands for better pay, sick leave and more annual leave are met.

The strike coincides with three legal claims alleging significant abuses and legal breaches by security contractor Wilson James, two of them launched since the strike began.  

One of the claims involves a migrant worker and union member, reported being subjected to racist remarks, including being told that “union members have low intelligence because they can’t even speak English.” Despite an investigation finding the victim’s account credible and the perpetrator’s evidence unreliable, no disciplinary action was taken against the perpetrator.

Another claim involves a zero-hour worker who refused to cross a picket line during October strikes. He was subsequently penalised with cancelled shifts, reduced wages, and marked as “unavailable.”

The third claim involves a female guard recovering from cancer who was repeatedly denied a chair despite her condition, causing her to collapse at work multiple times.

Wilson James has a troubling history of worker mistreatment, including an almost £1 million fine for negligence resulting in an employee’s death. UVW believes these latest cases are only a fraction of the abuse experienced by the company’s workers.

Noemi Molnar, Natural History Museum security guard and UVW member: 

“We began our campaign in late August, but Wilson James has yet to respond meaningfully to our demands, refusing to negotiate or even recognise us. Their responses have been empty, lacking facts or commitments. Despite this, our numbers have grown significantly.

In January, we decided to start a new cycle of strikes and actions. We love our work and our visitors, and we aim to improve our conditions rather than leave. Our job demands responsibility, dedication, experience, and fitness. Replacements can’t quickly match our level of expertise, especially in ensuring safety.

We are asking for a fair wage that covers living expenses, extended holidays, and paid sick leave. Working in crowded, cold environments, it’s unjust to work while unwell, risking everyone’s health. With complex viruses on the rise, Wilson James should adopt more flexible policies. We’re losing valuable colleagues to illness, and a profitable company should better care for its employees.

We are determined to continue our fight until we receive a fair and acceptable response and enter meaningful negotiations.”

Malina Nowicka, Science museum security guard, cancer survivor and UVW member, said:              

“I developed this condition called vasovagal syncope which leads me to feel faint in badly aired rooms. The Science Museum has no good ventilation and no air conditioning or heating so it’s suffocatingly hot in the summer and freezing in the winter. I asked to be moved away from doors and for a chair. It’s been three years and nothing’s changed. I’m doing it for me, for anyone with disabilities and my colleagues as well. Whatever you are – whatever  race, religion or disability etc  – nobody should be discriminated against at work. All workers should join the union and speak up about their issues. We should never be frightened to fight or speak up.” 

Evariste, Science Museum security guard at and UVW member, said:

“We are carrying on with the strike again this year, starting on January 17 and after several rounds of industrial action before Christmas, because we are still underpaid and we have no other choice. We are fighting for our survival and our wellbeing. We are not going to stop until management takes us seriously. It was great to have the director of Wilson James come to the museum, willing to listen to what we had to say before Xmas. but we haven’t heard back yet, almost a month later. So, we carry on and we call on management to meet with our UVW reps and staff for negotiations.”

Urszula Widlo, V&A duty shift manager and UVW member, said:

“We are continuing our dispute with Wilson James because it seems like we are talking to a wall as there are no answers from them. Wilson James is covering their ears, looking in the other direction, doing everything to ignore us. They are sending extra officers and reaching deeper and deeper into their pockets to cover for us when we go on strike, doubling the costs of officers in the three museums and still saying they don’t have money to give us a proper raise. So we are striking for four more days while we wait for  an invitation  to have real discussions. We will continue the dispute as long as Wilson James continues to  do nothing. So we are waiting for them to listen to us and talk to us and respect us.” 

Petros Elia, general secretary for UVW, said: 

“The courage of these museum security guards is an inspiration, they are taking on an exploitative employer and clients that prioritise profits over people regardless of the cost to the wellbeing of their hardworking employees. This strike is not just about pay or conditions; it’s about confronting structural injustices, exploitation, discrimination and greed. These workers have faced appalling treatment, from denial of basic workplace accommodations to outright discrimination and retaliation for standing up for their rights and demanding to be treated as equals. They are now leading a powerful fightback not only for themselves but for all outsourced workers who deserve better. UVW will continue to stand in solidarity with them, offering every resource we have to ensure their voices are heard and justice is achieved.”

For more information contact the UVW comms team.

Jim: 07749 765264
Cristina: 07548 759340

Isabel: 07706 987443

E-mail: comms@uvwunion.org.uk 

Notes for editors

United Voices of the World is an anti-racist, member-led, direct action, campaigning trade union and we exist to support and empower the most vulnerable groups of precarious, low-paid and predominantly BAME and migrant workers in the UK. We fight the bosses through direct action on the streets and through the courts and demand that all members receive at least the London Living Wage, full pay, sick pay, dignity, equality and respect.

More on the museums strike:

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