British Museum Staff Announce One-Week Strike

The British Museum’s unionized customer providers and safety departments introduced yesterday their intention to strike from February 13–19, in line with the Public and Industrial Service (PCS) Tradition Group. PCS, which represents staff employed by the federal government and public entities, such because the Nationwide Museum of Liverpool and the Wallace Assortment, can even lead a nationwide one-day strike on February 1.

100,000 members of PCS are campaigning initially for a ten% wage enhance, but additionally for higher labor situations total.

Gareth Spencer, president of PCS Tradition Group, instructed Hyperallergic that the choice to strike is partly a results of record-high inflation within the UK. The federal government has the ability to extend pay for these staff within the British Museum, which is funded by the Division of Digital, Tradition, Media, and Sport (DCMS). (DCMS workers additionally might be strolling out.) Nonetheless, wages for presidency staff haven’t saved up with the rising price of residing, creating harsh situations for members.

“Our members throughout the UK’s museums, galleries, libraries in addition to the civil service tradition staff who make coverage, allocate funding and ship initiatives deserve a greater deal on pay, pensions, and redundancy phrases,” Spencer mentioned.

In October 2022, British banks reported a better client worth index (CPI) than anticipated, 11.1%, largely on account of hovering vitality costs. Lately, the Financial institution of England forecast that CPI will drop from 11.1% to round 5% by the top of 2023, in line with Reuters.

Unionized civil staff escalated actions again in November 2022, after collective bargaining efforts introduced a suggestion for a below-inflation-rate pay increase. PCS members had been balloted and over 86% of those that mailed again in responses determined to strike. Within the UK, unions can name for a strike when responsive members vote to take action; a majority of establishments whose staff are represented by PCS, together with the British Museum, met this authorized threshold and voted within the affirmative. 

Beginning on the thirteenth, focused motion may disrupt public entry to the museum in the course of the February half-term, which is analogous to the USA’ mid-winter college break. In a press release, a British Museum spokesperson instructed Hyperallergic that the strikes are a part of a nationwide battle throughout the general public sector; subsequently, the matter is out of the establishment’s management. 

“We’ve a fastidiously rehearsed operational plan in place to reply to any workers shortages on strike days,” the spokesperson mentioned. “That plan prioritises a protected and safe opening of the Museum on a phased foundation. We’ll endeavour to maintain guests knowledgeable of any disruption on our web site with updates all through the day.”

PCS had additionally raised considerations about workers security and dealing situations on the British Museum virtually six and a half months in the past. Document warmth waves in July created “excessive indoor temperatures and poor indoor air high quality,” forcing the museum to ultimately shut for 2 days after pushback from staff.