A RALLY of over 100 Victoria and Albert Museum workers was held in Exhibition Road in South Kensington at 8am yesterday morning, ahead of mass strike action for pay which is being taken by the museum’s PCS and Prospect union members tomorrow and on Saturday.
Buses and taxis hooted loudly in support as the rally got underway, with large colourful strike banners festooned along the side of the museum. The strike follows a 95% vote in favour of strike action.
Union officers told News Line that there will be picket lines tomorrow and on Saturday in east London outside the V&A East Storehouse and V&A East Museum in Olympic Park and Young V&A in Bethnal Green, but not the main site in South Kensington.
Prospect rep Natalie Kane told yesterday’s rally: ‘We’ve not had fair pay increases for year after year and it has been really tough.
‘Basically, our members’ pay has gone down and we can’t and won’t accept it any more. Join us on the picket line!’
Teige, a Unite rep and striker at the Institute for Cancer Research, brought greetings to the rally, saying: ‘We’ve been out on strike for 56 days now.
‘We have suffered the same as you. Basically, we’ve seen a 16% loss in our pay and our members won’t accept it any more.
‘Our members have voted for really bold action and we are now on indefinite strike.
‘We love our jobs, which are really important, and we do not accept them being reduced to cheap labour.’
‘We’re going to be here with you on your picket lines on Friday and Saturday and every time you go on strike,’ Teige concluded to loud cheers.
Nick Marrow, PCS Culture Group Secretary, said: ‘It’s great to see Prospect out today and we look forward to being out on strike together on Friday and Saturday.
‘We are not going to accept low pay here anymore and we are demanding London Living Wage accreditation.
‘It’s outrageous that they don’t think the workers who scrub their toilets should be allowed to afford to live in London.
‘What we are demanding is basic and we are going to win.’
Scott McKenzie Cook, Prospect Chair and President of the Heritage Sector, said: ‘This is a really important struggle and it’s very important we step up the fight.’
Paula Lamont, Prospect National Secretary, spoke to News Line at the end of the rally, saying: ‘This has been a practice picket ahead of the industrial action at the V&A East sites on Friday and Saturday.
‘We are demanding a 4% pay increase, London Living Wage accreditation and subsidised catering.
‘We have just got the two strike dates planned so far, but if we don’t get an improved offer further strike action will be announced within the next couple of weeks.
‘Our members fully support this fight and are determined to win it.’
