V&A workers vote to strike over pay and conditions

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.