Museum workers in Liverpool to strike in pay dispute
More than 200 members of the Public and Commercial Services union (PCS) at National Museums Liverpool (NML) will take industrial action.
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Museum workers start an eight-week strike on Saturday in a dispute over pay.
More than 200 members of the Public and Commercial Services union (PCS) at National Museums Liverpool (NML) will take industrial action.
The union said it had offered to have a £1,500 payment it says is due paid in two instalments but it was turned down.
It’s time for NML to pay up and recognise the contribution our members make to the economic and cultural wellbeing of Liverpool
The NML is the only one of more than 200 employers not to have honoured the £1,500 payment which helped resolve a national dispute last year, said the union.
PCS general secretary Fran Heathcote said: “PCS has tried our hardest to resolve this dispute, but we have been met with a straight ‘No’ from the employer.
“Our fight is not with those people who visit the museums – it’s with those who undervalue our members’ passion, skill and knowledge at work.
“It’s time for NML to pay up and recognise the contribution our members make to the economic and cultural wellbeing of Liverpool.”
The strike action will run from Saturday to April 14 and is likely to affect four museums (the Museum of Liverpool, the World Museum, the International Slavery Museum and the Maritime Museum), as well as the Walker Art Gallery, Sudley House and the Lady Lever Art Gallery, said the union.