03.11.2025 / Press releases / Natural History, Science and V&A Museums / Science and V&A Museums / V&A Museum

United Voices of the World (UVW) wins union recognition at prestigious Science Museum

For immediate release 

United Voices of the World (UVW) wins union recognition at prestigious Science Museum 

·         United Voices of the World win union recognition at UK’s leading cultural institution through government’s CAC. 

·         This recognition win comes after a historic strike by the museums security guards for better pay and conditions, including 50 days of strike action, that secured significant pay rises of up to 23%. 

·         Following their recognition win, security guards are now preparing to negotiate a strong first pay deal in 2026. 

·         This recognition is hailed as a landmark victory in a security sector with high staff turnover, low pay, long hours and precarious contracts. 
 

After a long and tough fight, security guards at the world-renowned Science Museum have officially won union recognition through the government’s Central Arbitration Committee (CAC) — a landmark victory for workers’ rights in one of the UK’s most prestigious cultural institutions.  

Recognition is the next big step to secure a voice at work by museum guards, members of UVW, who comprise the bargaining unit. This win comes ff the back of huge, historic and hard-fought dispute, with the guards taking over 50 days of strike action that secured significant pay increases ranging from 13% to 23%.   

For years, Science Museum bosses have ignored their guards but now bosses have no choice but to sit down and negotiate with UVW workplace representatives over pay, hours and holidays and their working conditions. For a sector marred with high turnover and precarious contracts, low pay, long hours, and poor working conditions, this win is much more than a legal formality.  

Catherine Campbell, Science Museum security guard of 14 years and UVW member, said: 

“We won by organising one conversation at a time, standing strong and together on the picket lines through rain, wind and cold and with a great deal of solidarity and unity. We’re so pleased we we’ve now won recognition – the first in the museum’s history for security guards. For us, it is more than clear that the only union for us is United Voices of the World.” 

Petros Elia, UVW General Secretary said: 

“This is a major breakthrough for security guards at the Science Museum, their bosses have tried to ignore, but they can’t ignore them anymore. Now, UVW members will have a seat at the table and a collective voice in shaping their working lives. This victory is not only a testament to the unity, determination, and courage of the Science Museum’s security team — it’s a message to every worker across the UK; when workers stand together and refuse to back down, we win.”

ENDS 

Notes to Editors: 

United Voices of the World (UVW) is an independent, grassroots trade union supporting low-paid, precarious, and migrant workers across the UK.

Requests for statutory recognition to the Central Arbitration Committee (CAC) are made when the employers refuse to voluntarily recognise a union and is granted on proof of majority membership in the bargaining unit.  

The bargaining unit will comprise of the museums’ security guards, excluding managers. 

 
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT THE UVW COMMS TEAM.                   
 
Cristina: 07548 759340 
Isabel: 07706 987443 
 

More on the museums strike: 

·         Security guards at Natural History Museum, Science Museum and V&A urge public to not visit museums during historic month-long strike in February 

·         Striking security guards visit V&A trustee Amanda Levete to demand fair pay and sick leave 

·         Over 100 security guards to make history by taking co-ordinated strike action across the Science, Natural History and V&A Museums  

·         Strike action at the Natural History and Science Museums suspended pending talks  

·         Victoria and Albert Museum security guards begin ballot to strike, join forces with Science and Natural History colleagues in fight for fair pay  

·         UVW union threatens landmark private prosecution over strike-breaking regulations against museum security contractor Wilson James and agency BMSL  

·         Now, that’s what you call a picket! Over 300 join striking museum security guards 

·         Security guards at Natural History and Science museums announce strikes over October half term and Halloween 

·         Security guards at the Natural History and Science museums vote overwhelmingly to strike! 

·         Fighting for fair pay is a matter of principle 

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