Prospect and PCS suspend V&A half-term strike after pay offer

Prospect and the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union have suspended their planned 29–30 October strike at the V&A after the museum improved its offer. The unions and management will hold talks facilitated by Acas, the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service. They have not agreed a settlement.

Staff held two separate two-day strikes in September. The Guardian said the planned October walkout would have closed the V&A’s main South Kensington galleries, V&A East, V&A Storehouse and Young V&A. The museum now says all its museums, exhibitions, free displays and planned half-term activities will be open this week.

The offer and the remaining dispute

The V&A says its latest offer includes an average pay rise of 4.18%, a 6.9% increase for its lowest-paid staff, bank-holiday pay at 1.5 times the usual rate and subsidised food for staff at all its sites. These are proposed terms, not an agreed settlement.

The unions seek a 4% rise for staff earning above the living wage and want the V&A to become an accredited London living-wage employer within 12 months. Staff have also raised concerns about toilet and hydration breaks. The V&A says it pays its own staff at least the London living wage, currently £15.45 an hour; some outsourced contractors earn less.

The unions and museum will use the Acas-facilitated talks to seek a resolution. The V&A warns that some events may still be cancelled or postponed and advises visitors to check its website before travelling.