V&A resolves dispute over staff breaks at collections site

Collections access officers at the Victoria & Albert Museum (V&A) East Storehouse in London have come to an agreement over working practices.

Members of the Prospect union at the site had voted to take strike action over V&A’s refusal to grant two paid breaks a day.

But on 7 August the V&A notified members that it was changing its policy and granting staff the requested breaks.

Prospect members are still set to strike over wider issues on pay, terms and conditions, with PCS union also balloting their members for strike action.

Prospect general secretary Mike Clancy said: “This is a great result for our members but it really shouldn’t have taken the threat of strike action for V&A to grant this reasonable request.

“V&A spent multiple days defending the indefensible and eroding the trust of their own staff, it was only direct industrial pressure and negative media coverage that have forced this change of position.

“Management at the V&A can avoid further embarrassment and disruption by finally making progress on pay and conditions for staff and settling the remaining industrial dispute.

“Our members have shown that by determination and organisation they can take on the V&A and win. We’d also like to thank the many V&A customers and members of the public who have expressed their solidarity with our members in this dispute.”

The V&A has been approached for comment.

This summer has seen a number of national museums in disputes with their staff.

Royal Museums Greenwich (RMG) is facing a strike after members of the Prospect union voted for industrial action and PCS union members working at the National Galleries of Scotland in Edinburgh have also begun strike action.