Royal Museums Greenwich members to take strike action to secure better conditions
Prospect members at Royal Museums Greenwich (RMG) have voted overwhelmingly in favour of industrial action, as they campaign to secure improvements to pay and working conditions.
Entrance to the National Maritime Museum in London, part of Royal Museums Greenwich
77% of those who voted supported strike action on a turnout of 90%. 88% voted in favour of action short of a strike.
Members will take strike action on 11th and 12th of August.
Members are seeking:
- London Living Wage accreditation this year
- Protection of existing Christmas closure annual leave arrangements
- Paid breaks for security workers
- Stronger policies on fixed-term contracts
- Improved training and development opportunities
The action at RMG comes just after Prospect announced that members working at V&A in London have voted for industrial action in two separate disputes over pay and conditions.
Prospect, which represents heritage workers across major national and regional museums and galleries, argues that heritage workers are taking action in protest against poor pay and conditions which have characterised work in the sector.
Mike Clancy, Prospect General Secretary, said:
“Our members don’t want to take strike action, but they have been left with no choice by the attitude taken by senior management.
“We’ve already achieved progress, having recently agreed a two year pay settlement with RMG after successful negotiations. It is not too late to for them to avoid this strike, they need to keep negotiating and give us some movement on what are very reasonable demands.
“Across the heritage sector our members have been taken advantage of for too long. This summer we are sending a signal that they will not put up with it anymore.”
