Royal Museums Greenwich staff reject pay offer

Prospect members at Royal Museums Greenwich (RMG) have overwhelmingly rejected the employer’s latest pay offer, with 92% voting to reject with a turnout of 96%.

The offer was for a cash increase of £1,668 for all staff. The result comes after a year in which most staff received no pay increase, except for those on or immediately above the London Living Wage.

The dispute at RMG covers a wider range of issues. A major concern for staff is the museum’s refusal to accredit to the London Living Wage. Members are also opposing changes to custom and practice arrangements that would require front-of-house staff to use annual leave to cover museum closure days over Christmas.

Additional issues raised by staff include paid breaks for security workers, additional pay for bank holiday working, concerns around the use and renewal of fixed-term contracts, an inconsistent and opaque approach to pay progression, and the absence of a dedicated training and development budget for teams.

90% of members who voted to reject the offer said they would be prepared to take industrial action if the dispute is not resolved.

The ballot result reflects concerns among staff about how workplace issues have been handled at the museum. Prospect is calling on RMG to engage constructively with staff and listen to concerns that have been raised in order to improve industrial relations and reach a resolution.