Workers at three Victoria and Albert museum sites in London are set to strike on September 4 and 5 over issues including pay, health and safety, and working conditions. Following the planned walkout, members of the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union at all V&A locations will implement a work-to-rule policy and withdraw cooperation.
The PCS union stated that its members are demanding better pay, a cross-site policy to close public spaces when temperatures reach 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit), and for staff at the V&A East Storehouse to be permitted to drink and carry water at work. A ballot of PCS members showed 95% in favor of industrial action.
"Members have given the V&A 'every opportunity' to resolve the dispute through negotiation," said Fran Heathcote, PCS general secretary. "If management wants to avoid further disruption, it needs to get around the table with PCS and start negotiating seriously."
A spokesperson for the V&A said the museum has been in negotiations with the unions since February and has met the majority of their demands with a "significantly improved offer." The museum stated that its latest pay offer includes an average 4.2% increase for all staff, with the lowest-paid colleagues receiving a 6.9% raise, which is above inflation. The V&A also affirmed its commitment to paying at least the London Living Wage.
Regarding heat concerns, the museum's spokesperson noted that V&A East Storehouse has an air-cooling system and that all staff have regular breaks and access to drinking fountains on each floor. "Extensive heatwave mitigation has also been put in place across our museums," the spokesperson added.
Visitors are advised to check the museum's website for updates on potential disruptions. The V&A has multiple sites, including the main museum in South Kensington, the V&A East Storehouse, V&A East, and Young V&A, all located in London.