The ‘longest ever’ strike over pay and conditions will disrupt museums throughout February
Security staff at three of London’s most iconic museums—the Science Museum, Natural History Museum, and V&A Museum—are urging visitors to stay away as they embark on a month-long strike over pay and working conditions.
Around 100 members of the United Voices of the World (UVW) union, who are outsourced employees working under private security contractor Wilson James, will stage a walkout throughout February in a protest they describe as “unprecedented”. The UVW claims this will be the longest strike in the history of all three institutions.
Demands for fair pay and better conditions
The striking workers are demanding:
- A pay increase to reflect the rising cost of living.
- Improved sick pay to align with in-house museum staff.
- Additional annual leave, annual bonuses, and other benefits that would grant them parity with permanent museum employees.
The UVW has now called on the public to show solidarity with striking workers by boycotting the museums for the duration of the strike.
Bayo Owolawbi, a security guard at the Science Museum and UVW representative, said:
“We have been ignored and treated with utter disdain for too long. We have been undermined, but we do not undermine ourselves. We are strong, united, and we will work hard to get justice.”
In a significant escalation, the union announced that security guards at Young V&A Museum in Bethnal Green and V&A East Museum in Stratford have now joined the dispute.
A history of industrial action
This is not the first time workers at these institutions have taken industrial action. Employees staged similar strikes in October and December last year, as well as in January 2024, but say their demands have yet to be met.
UVW general secretary Petros Elias said:
“For too long, these workers have been treated as second-class citizens within the institutions they protect. They are not demanding luxury perks—they are simply asking for basic fairness.”
Wilson James responds
In response to the strike, Wilson James, the company responsible for employing the security staff, released a statement defending its position.
“At Wilson James, we place the highest value on our colleagues’ contributions to protecting and enhancing visitor experiences at the Natural History Museum, V&A, and Science Museum.
The safety of both our team members and the public is our top priority, and we are committed to maintaining a respectful and fair working environment.”
The company stated that it offers competitive pay and benefits and that recent negotiations secured a minimum pay increase of 5%, bringing wages in line with London Living Wage.
Wilson James also expressed disappointment over the latest strike action:
“We respect the right to strike while remaining confident that we will continue to deliver excellent service to the museums and their visitors throughout this period of industrial action.
We are disappointed that UVW members have made the decision to undertake further action. However, we are working diligently to minimise any disruption and ensure that visitors to the museums can continue to enjoy a safe and enriching experience.”
The company also confirmed that it was actively engaging with UVW in discussions aimed at formalising a recognition agreement to reach a resolution.
Impact on London’s museums and visitors
The strike action is expected to cause significant disruptions, with concerns over:
- Increased security risks due to reduced staff numbers.
- Potential closures of certain museum sections if security levels cannot be maintained.
- A decline in visitor numbers, particularly if the public chooses to honour the strike by staying away.
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While some visitors may still attempt to visit, the union is hopeful that a public show of solidarity will apply pressure on museum leadership and Wilson James to meet their demands.
With February expected to be a key period for museum attendance, particularly with half-term holidays, the strike could have a major financial impact on the institutions involved.
What happens next?
Unless an agreement is reached, the strike will continue for the entirety of February, marking a historic standoff between museum security staff and their employer.
The union has not ruled out further action if their demands remain unmet, raising concerns that similar strikes could take place later in 2024.
For now, Londoners and tourists alike are left with a choice:
- Support the strike by avoiding the museums, sending a message that fair wages and conditions matter.
- Continue visiting, potentially undermining the impact of the industrial action.
Either way, the coming weeks are set to test the resolve of both the striking workers and the museum leadership, as the longest strike in the institutions’ history unfolds.
