Security guards at the Natural History Museum and Science Museum gathered for a rabble rousing fundraiser at the Bethnal Green headquarters of their union United Voices of the World (UVW) on Saturday ahead of planned strike action next weekend.  

The security guards are demanding an hourly payrise to £16, full sick pay from day one and an extra week of annual leave from their employer, the private contractor, Wilson James.

Catherine Campbell, who has been a security guard at the Science Museum for thirteen years, said: “We’re building a lot of momentum towards it now… this fundraiser is an amazing thing for us.” 

“We’re completely riled up for it… we’re pretty positive.”

“The fact that we’re doing the strike kind of makes us feel that our bosses will be listening and thinking these guys are serious.” 

The security guards, who work at two of London’s biggest museums, are currently paid £11.95 per hour – just 51p above minimum wage, which was the London Living Wage in 2022.  Some have been working there for over a decade.

Pay rises introduced in October last year means the workers will receive £13.15 per hour – in line with the current London Living Wage, but the security guards have described the rates as ‘unequal’ and ‘unfair’. They say the blanket rate fails to take different duties in account.

Petros Elia, general secretary for UVW, said the fight for equal pay and rights of the security guards is going to be a “long, bitter battle” up against three major institutions: the Natural History Museum, Science Museum and Wilson James.  

Speaking to EastLondonLines, he said: “They’re in it for the money, and the figures speak for themselves. Between 2019 and 2021, their (Wilson James) net profit doubled from £3.8 million to £7.6 million, while in that same three year period the wages of the security guards increased by only 1.2%. 

“So even when facing the strike, they don’t care. They don’t care about the service… they don’t care about the people.” 

Nonetheless, spirits were high at the fundraiser which took place on Saturday October 19, at the union’s headquarters in Bethnal Green.

The party was organised to build community spirit and solidarity for the security guards ahead of the strikes. It began with placard and banner making workshops for the picket line on Saturday and continued with rousing speeches, a spread of Latin American food, an ice cream stall and salsa dancing. 

The strike action is expected to be one of the largest security guard strikes in the private sector for years, driven by thirteen years of close pay cuts.  

Campbell hopes the strike action will give the workers an opportunity to negotiate with Wilson James about their wages and described a feeling of “excitement” amongst members as she looks forward to a lot of “shouting, screaming and drums” at the picket line, with a “pleasant atmosphere”.   

Elia said: “You don’t always win if you fight, but you always lose if you don’t. 

“We can’t foretell what will happen, but we do know that the losing party in any dispute is the ones that give up first, and we’re not going to be the ones to give up first.” 

The union will be holding a picket line of an expected 50 to 60 members and their supporters outside the main entrances of the Science Museum and Natural History Museum starting Saturday October 26. United Voices of the World represents mainly Black and Brown workers, mostly migrants, many from Latin America and Africa.

In the past decade, their member lead actions have garnered solidarity in disputes with Great Ormond Street Hospital, Harrods, Royal Parks – and they have often won.