STRIKING PCS and Prospect union members were getting plenty of support on their picket lines at the V&A museum in South Kensington yesterday morning.
Both PCS and Prospect unions are in dispute dispute with management over pay, health and safety, working conditions and trade union engagement.
The industrial action follows an overwhelming ballot of PCS members, with 95.39% voting in favour of strike action and 97.86% backing action short of a strike.
On the picket line Prospect rep Susan North told News Line: ‘Fair pay is our issue, we want a 4 per cent pay rise.
‘Although management have agreed to pay the London Living Wage at the moment they haven’t agreed for it to be accredited, that is to always pay it – why not?
‘Also we want time and a half for all Bank Holiday working, as currently staff don’t get any extra pay.
‘We voted to reject a 3.25 per cent pay offer because between 2009 and 2019 we have only had one pay increase that was barely above inflation.
‘Over the last 18 years our pay has declined, rents are up fares are up, we can’t sacrifice any more.
‘Yet managing directors have a salary of £180,000 and a bonus of £20,000.
‘We love the work and our collections here and we want the Museum to be successful but not at our expense.’
Also on the picket line, technical manager Richard Ashbridge said: ‘The pay award offered by management is an insult.
‘Staff here are relatively low paid and we need to look after the bottom paid.
‘Staff give lots of good will and often work over the hours, we are not asking for anything that is not achievable.’
Striking Prospect member Stephanie said: ‘They want champagne exhibitions on beer money, our goodwill is exhausted.
‘Everyone needs to meet their financial commitments with fair pay.’
In a statement, Mike Clancy, general secretary of Prospect, said members had been left with ‘no choice’ but to take action as senior management ‘continues to not engage seriously on our very reasonable demands’.
He added: ‘Directors at V&A continue to demonstrate their lack of respect for the very people who make the museum what it is – its dedicated, highly qualified staff.
‘The V&A can still avoid this strike, but it needs actual effort to meet our terms and for senior management to demonstrate that they are serious about wanting to find a solution.’
PCS general secretary Fran Heathcote said: ‘V&A workers have been left with no choice but to continue taking strike action because management has failed to properly address their important concerns.’
