This article was first published by the Museum and Heritage Advisor.
Workers at the Victoria and Albert Museum who are members of the PCS Union have voted to strike in a dispute over pay, health and safety, working conditions and the way management engages with staff.
A vote among members saw 95% back strike action, while 97.86% voted in favour of action short of a strike.
The ballot, which opened on 23 July, covered PCS members working across the V&A’s London sites, including South Kensington, V&A East Storehouse, V&A East Museum and Young V&A.
PCS members are demanding that V&A management negotiate a better pay offer for staff on ‘Band 6’ and above, becoming a Real Living Wage accredited employer, increasing pay to 1.5 times on Bank Holidays, an agreed cross-site policy to close public spaces when temperatures reach 30 degrees, protecting staff and visitors, and a discussion on appropriate heat mitigation measures for back-of-house staff.
It also asks for workers at V&A East Storehouse to be allowed to drink and carry water at work, and a schedule of meetings with PCS representatives to discuss issues affecting members.
