Strike action hit the British Museum (BM) and the National Gallery (NG) last month as staff walked out over "inadequate" pay offers. Members of Prospect union - which represents over 200 members at the BM and over 50 at the NG - and the Public and Commercial Services union (PCS) joined forces to stage the four-hour action at the BM.
Prospect members held a one-day strike at the NG (PCS members voted to accept the NG pay deal).
Prospect members at the BM had voted to strike after rejecting the 2007-08 pay deal of 1.6 per cent. At the NG, Prospect members rejected a two-year pay deal (2007-09), which the union said "does little to reduce the time it takes staff to reach the top of their pay band" (currently 18 years).
Prospect national secretary Alan Leighton said: "We didn't do this with the aim of closing galleries or museums. It was a show of staff not being prepared to put up with being treated like this."
The four-hour walkout at the BM closed the museum, with the exception of the ground floor galleries, said Prospect. But the BM disputed this. Deputy director Andrew Burnett admitted some galleries had restricted access but said many were open on the ground floor, adding: "The strike did not have a serious impact on visitor figures."
And at the NG, the strike meant two of the three information desks were closed, while the information line redirected callers to the website. The library and archive was also closed.
Prospect and PCS unions said they are both worried that the 2008-09 pay negotiations at the BM could suffer a similar fate. Prospect is calling for a review of 2007-08 pay deals and the 2008-09 deal at the NG. Both museums said a review was unlikely to happen.
A spokesman for the NG said: "It is not possible to improve on the total of 3.8 per cent for each year. The award is the maximum affordable and the gallery has no money to increase it."
After the strike, members immediately began an indefinite work-to-rule at the BM and NG. Leighton said: "Members do so much overtime, it will have an effect."
Local authority strike action last month also affected museums across England, including Norwich Castle Museum and Bristol City Museum and Art Gallery.
Prospect members held a one-day strike at the NG (PCS members voted to accept the NG pay deal).
Prospect members at the BM had voted to strike after rejecting the 2007-08 pay deal of 1.6 per cent. At the NG, Prospect members rejected a two-year pay deal (2007-09), which the union said "does little to reduce the time it takes staff to reach the top of their pay band" (currently 18 years).
Prospect national secretary Alan Leighton said: "We didn't do this with the aim of closing galleries or museums. It was a show of staff not being prepared to put up with being treated like this."
The four-hour walkout at the BM closed the museum, with the exception of the ground floor galleries, said Prospect. But the BM disputed this. Deputy director Andrew Burnett admitted some galleries had restricted access but said many were open on the ground floor, adding: "The strike did not have a serious impact on visitor figures."
And at the NG, the strike meant two of the three information desks were closed, while the information line redirected callers to the website. The library and archive was also closed.
Prospect and PCS unions said they are both worried that the 2008-09 pay negotiations at the BM could suffer a similar fate. Prospect is calling for a review of 2007-08 pay deals and the 2008-09 deal at the NG. Both museums said a review was unlikely to happen.
A spokesman for the NG said: "It is not possible to improve on the total of 3.8 per cent for each year. The award is the maximum affordable and the gallery has no money to increase it."
After the strike, members immediately began an indefinite work-to-rule at the BM and NG. Leighton said: "Members do so much overtime, it will have an effect."
Local authority strike action last month also affected museums across England, including Norwich Castle Museum and Bristol City Museum and Art Gallery.
At a glance
April
Employees at the BM and NG balloted on pay offers (1.6 per cent and 3.8 per cent respectively) that are a year late.
96 per cent of Prospect members at the NG reject two-year offer.
BM and NG impose payments on staff for 2007-08.
June
Strike by union members at the Museum of London and the National Museum of Science and Industry group.
July
Strike action at BM and NG.
Work to rule at BM and NG begins.
April
Employees at the BM and NG balloted on pay offers (1.6 per cent and 3.8 per cent respectively) that are a year late.
96 per cent of Prospect members at the NG reject two-year offer.
BM and NG impose payments on staff for 2007-08.
June
Strike by union members at the Museum of London and the National Museum of Science and Industry group.
July
Strike action at BM and NG.
Work to rule at BM and NG begins.
