National Museum Wales to cut 23 posts
Restructure will affect 134 jobs in total
A major restructure at National Museum Wales - Amgueddfa Cymru (NMW) will see 23 permanent posts cut from the service.
The move follows a 90-day consultation with its 650 members of staff and trade unions.
Earlier this year, the museum estimated that 35 permanent posts would be lost.
“In January, NMW presented a proposed new structure to its staff and trade unions, which would help achieve the savings of £2.5m required over the next three years due to a reduced budget,” said NMW in a statement.
134 jobs in total will be affected by the restructure, including staff on fixed-term contracts that will not be extended or renewed.
Compulsory redundancies may be avoided through voluntary redundancy and early retirement schemes, as well as offering redeployment into vacant posts.
But Gareth Howells, the Cardiff-based representative of the Prospect trade union, said: “The loss of expertise from National Museum Wales is very worrying. I am also concerned that premium payments for staff working unsociable hours will be reduced.”
The NMW statement said: “NMW's senior management team is currently reviewing the payment of premiums, which is currently offered to encourage working at the weekend.
"A proposal will be developed for initial discussion with our recognised trade unions in June.”
NMW will continue to have a substantial curatorial and conservation team made up of 120 members of staff, added the museum statement, with “high level international expertise across all departments”.
“The new structure will not affect the day-to-day operations of the seven national museums across Wales,” said David Anderson, director general of National Museum Wales.
Meanwhile, the results of a consultative ballot of Prospect’s members calling for strike action is expected later today.
Update
21.05.2013
Prospect's union members at NMW voted in favour of strike action by 132 to 35.
The move follows a 90-day consultation with its 650 members of staff and trade unions.
Earlier this year, the museum estimated that 35 permanent posts would be lost.
“In January, NMW presented a proposed new structure to its staff and trade unions, which would help achieve the savings of £2.5m required over the next three years due to a reduced budget,” said NMW in a statement.
134 jobs in total will be affected by the restructure, including staff on fixed-term contracts that will not be extended or renewed.
Compulsory redundancies may be avoided through voluntary redundancy and early retirement schemes, as well as offering redeployment into vacant posts.
But Gareth Howells, the Cardiff-based representative of the Prospect trade union, said: “The loss of expertise from National Museum Wales is very worrying. I am also concerned that premium payments for staff working unsociable hours will be reduced.”
The NMW statement said: “NMW's senior management team is currently reviewing the payment of premiums, which is currently offered to encourage working at the weekend.
"A proposal will be developed for initial discussion with our recognised trade unions in June.”
NMW will continue to have a substantial curatorial and conservation team made up of 120 members of staff, added the museum statement, with “high level international expertise across all departments”.
“The new structure will not affect the day-to-day operations of the seven national museums across Wales,” said David Anderson, director general of National Museum Wales.
Meanwhile, the results of a consultative ballot of Prospect’s members calling for strike action is expected later today.
Update
21.05.2013
Prospect's union members at NMW voted in favour of strike action by 132 to 35.