V&A unions suspend planned strike after improved pay offer
Unions have suspended the V&A strike planned for 29 and 30 October after museum management improved its pay offer. Prospect and PCS will enter Acas-facilitated negotiations over pay and working conditions. London museum sites, including the main galleries in South Kensington, will remain open during the school break, although some events may still be cancelled or postponed while the public programme is restored.
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October walkout is suspended for talks
Unions have suspended the strike planned for 29 and 30 October at the Victoria and Albert Museum, the art and design institution with several London sites. The decision followed an improved management offer. Prospect and the Public and Commercial Services union, known as PCS, will take part in talks facilitated by the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service, or Acas.[1], [2]
The action would have closed the main galleries in South Kensington and three east London sites: V&A East, V&A Storehouse and Young V&A. Museum management said exhibitions, free displays and school half-term activities would be open this week. It warned that some events might still be cancelled or postponed as the public programme was reinstated.[1]
Pay and holiday rates remain in negotiation
The unions seek a 4 per cent pay increase for staff earning above the living wage. They also want the museum to obtain London living-wage employer accreditation within 12 months and to pay one and a half times the normal rate for bank-holiday work. Improved arrangements during heatwaves and better food at the east London sites are further demands.[1]
Management said its latest offer provides an average pay rise of 4.18 per cent and an increase of 6.9 per cent for the lowest-paid staff. It also described bank-holiday pay at 1.5 times the normal rate, a bonus scheme and subsidised food at all museum sites. Prospect’s national secretary Paula Lamont said the union would enter the talks in good faith.[1]
September strikes preceded the new offer
Two separate two-day strikes took place in September. When staff first voted for action in July, management said it had introduced extra rest breaks and closed some galleries during the hottest periods. The London living wage is now 15.45 pounds an hour. The museum says its own staff receive at least that rate, while some outsourced contractors do not. V&A Dundee, outside this dispute, is an accredited living-wage employer.[1]
