Science, Natural History and V&A Museum Security Guards Strike continues in January

The guards outsourced guards to security contractor Wilson James have already taken18 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.

Evariste, a Science Museum security guard and UVW member, says he and his colleagues are determined to continue their fight. “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.”

His sentiment is echoed by colleague Urszula Widlo, who works as a duty shift manager at the V&A: “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.” 

The museums’ strike is not just about pay or conditions but about confronting structural injustices, exploitation, discrimination and greed. Striker Noemi Molnar, a Natural History Museum security guard explained: “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.”

“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.”

The guards’ strike coincides with three legal claims against Wilson James alleging significant abuses and legal breaches by security contractor Wilson James, two of them launched since the strike began, including: race and disability discrimination, victimisation, unlawful pay cuts, and blacklisting.

The 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. UVW commenced these claims on behalf of security guards involved in the recent strike.

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. Malina Nowicka, a Science museum security guard, cancer survivor, is taking her employer to the Employment Tribunal. She told us: “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.”