THERE was another very well-attended picket line outside the Young V&A Museum in Bethnal Green on Saturday, with loud chants of: ‘What do we want Fair Pay, When do we want it? Yesterday!’ echoing down the main road.
Speaking on the second day of the historic two-day strike by V&A workers, union rep Jessica told News Line: ‘We want the V&A to become an accredited Living Wage Employer. They keep putting it off.
‘People work really hard and they want to be financially secure. The V&A make a big point about bringing local workers, but we have to be able to be secure.
‘It’s really hard. A lot of our members are using food banks. They may borrow from friends or relatives to pay for transport to work. They cut down on food and doing social things.
‘This is happening across heritage, the arts, museums and libraries. People work really hard and take less pay – we can’t keep living like this.
‘V&A keep boasting about a really good financial year, when they don’t give us enough to live and work in London. This is the first strike in four years.’
Down the road, there was a lively picket of over 50 at the V&A East Storehouse at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in Stratford, East London.
They had a loudspeaker, with food to keep them going on a warm day.
Darius Rajaie, a floor manager and a PCS member at V&A East Storehouse, told News Line: ‘We love this place and what people basically want out of life is basic dignity and not to be fearful in taking strike action.
‘When I started here, I almost cried tears of joy because I was proud to be here, but lately, I felt the light in my eyes go dimmer because you’re always having to compromise over again with what you feel is right.
‘But I feel a sense of hope because of the courage of everyone here on the picket line today, fighting for our rights.’
Shay Pomeroy, a Prospect member, said: ‘Our members are out here today to ensure they’re treated fairly at work, and that they get good working conditions and finally that they’re compensated well for their labour.’
Paula Lamont, a Prospect official said: ‘We want a four per cent increase. In previous years they’ve been below inflation pay awards, so we’re looking for pay restoration this year.
‘We also want London living accreditation to guarantee living wage increases in future years.’