Guards on the Science Museum, the Victoria and Albert Museum and the Pure Historical past Museum are planning strike motion from 17 to 21 January in protest over ‘stagnant pay’. The union behind the deliberate motion, United Voices of the World (UVW), says that about 100 of its members work as safety guards on the three museums who’re employed by the exterior contractor Wilson James.
A UVW assertion says: “Safety guards on the Science Museum, Pure Historical past Museum, and V&A Museum are putting after years of stagnant pay and real-terms pay cuts and have already taken strike motion over 16 days. They’re demanding £16 an hour, sick pay from day one, and an extra week of annual go away.” The union beforehand organised strikes on the London museums earlier this 12 months and likewise on 21 December.
UVW has urged the general public to help its members by not visiting the museums whereas the following strike is on. Petros Elia, the UVW basic secretary, instructed The Observer: “Wilson James pay big sums to their executives and pay these on the backside a pittance. We’d urge the general public to not go to the museums throughout strike days and donate in direction of our strike fund, in order that employees should not pressured to return to work.”
A Wilson James spokesperson says: “We provide aggressive compensation and are dedicated to clear negotiations with our recognised unions. Whereas we acknowledge the calls for put ahead by UVW, we’re searching for a decision that balances honest pay with the necessity to stay financially accountable. As a ‘Recognised Service Supplier’ by the Residing Wage Basis, we proceed to work to make sure that pay for our safety colleagues stays reflective of the circumstances… Whereas we respect the fitting to strike, we stay assured that we’ll proceed to ship wonderful service to the museums and their guests all through this era of commercial motion.”
