Staff at the National Gallery staged a second day of strike action last month in protest against the imposition of a pay deal.
As well as being unhappy about the two-year pay deal, which is worth 3.8 per cent a year, staff told Museums Journal that they were disappointed that management hadn't done anything to improve the amount of time it takes to progress through pay bands - it currently takes 18 years to reach the top of a band.
A spokesman for the gallery said that the number of progression steps in pay bands had already been reduced from 21 to 18 and that subject to affordability and Treasury approval the gallery was committed to gradually reducing the number of progression steps in each band.
Azim Hajee, a negotiations officer with Prospect, which represents more than 60 staff at the museum acknowledged that it was a difficult time economically but said that the deal was late and below inflation:
"This will be the third year in succession that staff have had a below inflation award imposed and their patience is exhausted. The heritage sector has never been known for generous salaries yet our members have been dealt a double blow at a time when living costs are soaring."
Hajee said that "interference" from the Treasury and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport meant that the 2007 pay offer was nearly 12 months late.
The spokesman for the gallery said that pay deal was late because of the late announcement of the Comprehensive Spending review settlement last year.
As well as being unhappy about the two-year pay deal, which is worth 3.8 per cent a year, staff told Museums Journal that they were disappointed that management hadn't done anything to improve the amount of time it takes to progress through pay bands - it currently takes 18 years to reach the top of a band.
A spokesman for the gallery said that the number of progression steps in pay bands had already been reduced from 21 to 18 and that subject to affordability and Treasury approval the gallery was committed to gradually reducing the number of progression steps in each band.
Azim Hajee, a negotiations officer with Prospect, which represents more than 60 staff at the museum acknowledged that it was a difficult time economically but said that the deal was late and below inflation:
"This will be the third year in succession that staff have had a below inflation award imposed and their patience is exhausted. The heritage sector has never been known for generous salaries yet our members have been dealt a double blow at a time when living costs are soaring."
Hajee said that "interference" from the Treasury and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport meant that the 2007 pay offer was nearly 12 months late.
The spokesman for the gallery said that pay deal was late because of the late announcement of the Comprehensive Spending review settlement last year.
