Key facts
- Over 300 V&A workers are balloting for strike action.
- Key issues include pay, heat exposure, and access to drinking water.
- The PCS union is demanding a 4% pay increase and accredited living wage employer status.
- The V&A has offered a 3.6% increase in the overall pay bill and stated staff are paid at least the London living wage.
- Prospect trade union is also balloting its members over pay and conditions.
Workers at the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) are balloting for strike action over a combination of pay disputes and concerns about working conditions during heatwaves. The ballot, involving over 300 staff across four London sites, was launched by the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) on July 23.
Key demands from the PCS include a minimum 4% pay increase and for the V&A to become an accredited London living wage employer. The union also seeks policies to close public areas when temperatures exceed 30C and improved heat mitigation measures for staff working in back-of-house roles. A specific concern is the inability for staff at the V&A East Storehouse to carry and drink water while working, requiring them to be relieved by a colleague.
The V&A has stated that negotiations with trade unions have been ongoing since February, and they have offered a 3.6% increase in the overall pay bill, with a 6.9% rise for their lowest-paid colleagues. The museum confirmed that all its staff are paid at least the London living wage of £14.80 per hour, though some outsourced contractors are not. The museum also stated that staff safety and wellbeing are paramount, with access to water, facilities, and breaks, and that extensive measures were implemented during the recent heatwave, including gallery closures.
The Prospect trade union is also conducting its own ballot for strike action among V&A members concerning pay and conditions, which closes on July 29.