GREATER LONDON — Employees at London’s renowned Victoria and Albert (V&A) Museum began a two-day strike Friday amid an ongoing dispute over wages and working conditions.
Members of the Prospect and PCS unions at the museum’s South Kensington location are striking on Sept. 25 and 26 after negotiations between the unions and museum management failed to resolve several outstanding issues.
The latest industrial action follows a previous walkout on Sept. 4-5 by workers at three other V&A locations — East Storehouse, East Museum and Young V&A.
In a statement, the PCS union disputed several claims made by V&A Director Tristram Hunt regarding the pay dispute.
The union said Hunt had stated that V&A employees would receive an average pay increase of 4.18%. However, PCS argued that most workers, excluding those in the lowest-paid positions, had actually been offered a 3.25% increase.
According to the union, employees in the lowest pay band would receive a 6.9% increase, bringing their wages in line with the London Living Wage. However, it said the museum had declined to obtain official London Living Wage accreditation.
The union also challenged the museum’s statement that all employees have access to drinking fountains on every floor, saying the available facilities are inadequate and are frequently out of order.
The museum, in a statement issued earlier this week after workers voted for strike action, expressed disappointment over the decision.
The V&A said the safety and wellbeing of its employees remained a priority, adding that staff have regular access to drinking water, toilet facilities and workplace breaks.
Workers represented by Prospect and PCS voted last month in favor of taking industrial action.
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