British Museum staff on strike

Martha Probert - Arts Sub-Editor

Over 100 of the museum's staff balloted for a week of strike action during the halfterm holidays

Staff at The British Museum are among museum workers across the country who have participated in strike action during half-term week in protest over jobs, pay, pensions, and redundancy terms.

Striking staff are members of the UK’s largest civil service union, the Public and Commercial Service Union, known as the PCS. Striking staff are amongst 100,000 members who voted in favour of industrial action in the week beginning the 13th February.

Members are seeking a pay rise of 10%, in line with inflation

Around 100 workers at the museum, including those in visitor services and security, are striking during English schools’ half-term week. The museum’s programme of holiday events and activities was cancelled as a result. It remained open to visitors for the first four days of the strike, albeit with restricted gallery access, and without information desk, ticket desk, box office, and cloakroom services. The museum decided to close temporarily on the 17th, 18th, and 19th February, the final days of strike action.

This comes after previous strike action forced the closure of the British Museum, the Museum of Liverpool, and Scotland’s National War Museum on February 1st.

More than 86% of workers who took part in the PCS’ ballot voted in favour strike action. The ballot was prompted by a pay rise offer of only 2% from the government. Members are seeking a pay rise of 10%, in line with inflation.

Mark Serwotka, general secretary of the PCS, stated that, “If the government was serious about resolving the dispute, ministers could resolve it tomorrow. Instead, they’re shamefully hiding their heads in the sand, hoping we’ll go away. We won’t.”

The strike will be followed by another national walkout by PCS members on the 15th March, the date on which the next government budget will be announced.

by Sarah Tunstall -Arts Sub-Editor

Why don't we stop fooling ourselves?

I wanted you to love Simon and Garfunkel.

I'd skip Overs

Paul knew too much About falling out of love.

I thought this album has twelve songs?

I'd skip Overs

Paul knew too much about People deteriorating, How did he know about us.

The game is over, Over Over.

Simon and Garfunkel, Bookends (1968)