The British Museum in London is set to face another weeklong strike as workers express their frustration over the institution’s refusal to meet their demands. The strike, organized by the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS), will involve visitors services and security staff and is scheduled to take place from July 11 to 16.
This planned strike is part of a larger ongoing dispute between the government and British trade unions representing civil servants. The disagreement revolves around issues of pay, pensions, and job security and has been ongoing since November. Other cultural organizations with PCS membership, including Historic England, the Wallace Collection, National Museums Scotland, the National Museum of Liverpool, and the National Museums Scotland, are also participating in the strike as part of the PCS Culture Group, which collectively represents employees across these institutions.
Earlier this year, in mid-February, British Museum staff carried out a weeklong walkout, resulting in disruptions to programming and limited access for visitors without pre-booked tickets. The museum had also experienced a previous walkout earlier in the same month as part of a nationwide strike organized by the PCS, leading to a temporary closure for the day.
Despite the union’s recent victory in negotiations, securing a one-time payment of £1,500 ($1,880) for union members who are not part of senior staff due to rising inflation, staff at the British Museum are still dissatisfied with the institution’s response. The museum has not agreed to make the recommended payments, prompting further discontent among employees.
PCS General Secretary Mark Serwotka expressed outrage at the museum’s refusal, stating, “It’s an outrage that even after the government recognized the need for our members to be given more financial support during the crippling cost-of-living crisis, the British Museum is refusing to pay it.” Serwotka emphasized that the museum’s rejection of the payment was deeply insulting to the staff and warned that further disruptions would occur if the museum failed to commit to the payment.
The British Museum, however, clarified that it has not outright refused the payment. As an institution with an independent income, it falls under the category of “Freedom Bodies” and is not bound by the government’s pay remit guidance. The museum expressed its willingness to discuss this year’s pay settlement, including the possibility of a lump sum payment, with the three unions it works with, including the PCS.
PCS has agreed to attend a meeting on July 6 to negotiate pay for the 2023/2024 fiscal year, but the strike will proceed unless the museum agrees to the £1,500 payments. The union also highlighted that the museum currently pays many front-of-house staff wages that are below the London Living Wage, leading to financial difficulties for employees who struggle to meet their basic needs.
As the strike looms, the British Museum and the PCS will need to find common ground and address the concerns of the workers to ensure a fair and equitable resolution. The impact of the strike on programming and visitor access remains uncertain, with the museum yet to provide further information on the matter.
