Museum security guards announce six-day strike over Halloween

Security guards at London’s Natural History Museum and Science Museum are to go on strike for six days during the upcoming half-term break and Halloween festivities, described as the "busiest week" of the year for the institutions.

The workers, who are employed by the external contractor Wilson James, will walk out from 1830 on Friday 25 October 2024 to 0630 on Sunday 27 October, and from 1830 on Wednesday 30 October to 0630 on Friday 1 November.  

The United Voices of the World (UVW) union, which represents the security guards, said they are taking action “over management's refusal to negotiate a pay rise and improved conditions”.

The workers are demanding a pay rise to £16 per hour, improvements to their current sick pay scheme and increased annual and compassionate leave.

The union said that, over the course of Wilson James' contract with the museums, which also includes the V&A, “the outsourced security guards have seen three years of complete wage stagnation whilst Wilson James’ net profits increased by over 50%”.

The security guards have been offered an “insulting” increase to £13.15 an hour following years of real-terms pay cuts, said the union. This includes two separate three-year periods of frozen wages over the past 13 years, with other years seeing raises of 0.3 and 0.5%.

Until August this year, the guards were earning £11.95 per hour, 51p above the minimum wage and equivalent to the London Living Wage in 2022.

The workers say the recent increase is “too little, too late,” and that the raise falls significantly short of aggregated inflation and does not correct the years of wage stagnation and real-terms pay cuts.

“Being the guardians of culture and history is a great responsibility, and we are always ready for the task,” said Charles Fuller, who has been a security guard at the Natural History Museum for 19 years.

“We ensure the security in and around the building, and we are highly skilled and trained – I myself am a behavioural detection officer – yet we are the lowest paid staff in the building. Housekeeping, retail, visitor assistance, they all earn more than us.

“All the guards are dedicated to the museum and respect all the staff and managers, but we feel unappreciated. We’ve been saying this for the last 10-12 years. This is about fairness and providing for our families.”

Petros Elia, general secretary for UVW, said: “After years of real-terms pay cuts, frozen wages, sub-inflation pay rises, and unfair treatment, our members are walking out with a heavy heart during the busiest week for the museums all year – October half term.

“They have been left with no other alternative but to strike following Wilson James’ refusal to enter into negotiations or even acknowledge their grievances and demands. While our members wages stagnated and saw nominal increases, Wilson James’ profits were skyrocketing.

“This is no coincidence and it is time that the security got a fair share of the pie. We stand in full solidarity with our members, and know it is just a question of time – no matter how many days of strike action need to be taken – before justice is served.”

A Wilson James spokesperson said: “We value our colleagues at the museums and recognise their vital contributions to protecting such treasured national institutions. We will do everything we can to maintain service and ensure the safety, comfort, and satisfaction of families and children excited to visit the museums during half term.

“We are proud to offer competitive compensation to our employees and remain dedicated to fair and transparent negotiations. Throughout the year, we have been in negotiations with our recognised unions at the museums, and in September reached an agreement to increase security officers’ pay to £13.15 per hour backdated to April 2024, in line with our commitments as a London Living Wage accredited employer.”

The Natural History Museum and Science Museum have not commented on the dispute.