The London-based United Voices of the World (UVW) union has taken legal action against the external contractor Wilson James for alleged “discrimination, victimisation, and unlawful pay cuts” against its members.
Around 100 of UVW’s members are employed by Wilson James and work as security guards at three London museums: the Victoria and Albert Museum, the Natural History Museum, and the Science Museum. They are planning to strike this week from January 17 to 20 in protest over “stagnant pay.”
“[The security guards] are striking after years of stagnant pay and real-terms pay cuts and have already taken strike action over 16 days,” a statement by UVW said. “They are demanding £16 an hour, sick pay from day one, and an additional week of annual leave.”
In response, a Wilson James spokesperson said, “We offer competitive compensation and are committed to transparent negotiations with our recognised unions. While we acknowledge the demands put forward by UVW, we are seeking a resolution that balances fair pay with the need to remain financially responsible.”
UVW has launched three legal claims against Wilson James for “race and disability discrimination, victimisation, unlawful pay cuts, and blacklisting,” the union said. One of the claims involves a zero-hours worker who refused to cross a picket line during strikes last year. UVW claims Wilson James punished them as a result by cutting their shifts and wages.
Another claim involves a migrant worker and union member who was allegedly subjected to racist remarks. The third claim is about a female guard who UVW says was repeatedly denied a chair at work while she was recovering from cancer.
“The safety of both our team members and the public are our top priority and we are committed to maintaining a respectful and fair working environment,” the Wilson James spokesperson said. “We are aware of the situations relating to the individuals in UVW’s statement and are working with the relevant parties towards resolution. We do not condone or practice any form of coercion related to attendance.”
