Security guards at London’s Science and Natural History museums are planning to strike over what their union calls a “disrespectful and demoralising” salary offer.

Workers will vote on whether to conduct industrial action beginning next month.

The latest offer of £13.15 per hour by their employer, security contractor Wilson James, was “too little, too late” according to the United Voices of the World (UVW) union.

Wilson James, the firm to which both museums have outsourced their security services, said it respected its employees and was committed to resolving the disagreement.

According to a UVW representative, the compensation offer is lower than the inflation rate from previous year.

The guards, who are seeking for £16 per hour, are now paid £11.95 per hour and are not eligible for sick pay until the fourth day of absence.

They are also asking additional annual and compassionate leave.

“It’s hard to make ends meet.”

If the ballot supports industrial action, guards will strike intermittently between October 21 and April 3.

Catherine Campbell, a security officer at the Science Museum, stated, “I’m demoralised and sad because I haven’t received a fair pay increase.

“I have been a security guard for 13 years and am a fully trained first aider…Dealing with this situation might be stressful. I am always willing to help and do my best, but I believe my remuneration should reflect this degree of responsibility.”

Her colleague Bayo Owolabi stated, “The rising costs of rent, energy, groceries, and transportation have made it difficult to make ends meet.”

Kingsley Ampofo, a security guard at the Natural History Museum, stated that he had to work overtime to make ends meet.

UVW general president Petros Elia stated that many of the guards, who are mostly migrant workers, protect millions of visitors each year and should not be the lowest paid at the museums.

Mr Elia claims that the museums’ choice to outsource security operations made guards feel like “second-class workers,” and he is demanding for the service to be brought back in-house.

A spokeswoman for Wilson James commented: “We are actively engaged in conversations with our colleagues and formally recognised trade union representatives at the Science Museum and Natural History Museum and remain dedicated to seeking an effective pay resolution.”

The Science Museum and the Natural History Museum both linked the Local Democracy Reporting Service to Wilson James’ remark.

Source – BBC