PCS members at the protest (Pic: @pcs_union on X)
More than 80 PCS and Prospect union members rallied outside the Victoria & Albert (V&A) museum in west London on Wednesday morning ahead of strikes over pay.
The workers are set to walk out on Friday and Saturday at various sites, including V&A East, V&A Storehouse and Young V&A.
They danced to Dolly Parton’s “9 to 5” and held up signs reading, “Show us the Monet,” while bus drivers on the busy Exhibition Road honked their horns in support.
“What’s been really inspirational is to see how our members have worked alongside PCS to pull together a two-union strike,” Paula Lamont, Prospect national secretary for the heritage sector, said.
Workers are demanding a 6.9 percent increase for those at the bottom of pay band 7. This would still only bring their wages into line with the London Living Wage.
For those above band 7, union members are demanding a pay rise of at least 4 percent.
They’re demanding “time-and-a-half” enhanced pay on bank holidays for all—and for the V&A to become an accredited London Living Wage employer. And they want bosses to improve food facilities for workers at the V&A East sites.
“It’s ridiculous that we’re having to walk out on strike because what we’re demanding are the basics,” PCS member Peter told Socialist Worker.
The workers at the V&A Storehouse have already secured a small victory. Bosses conceded to their demands—in a separate dispute—for two paid breaks per shift. “How generous of the V&A,” Peter added.
“But we also need access to drinking water at the Storehouse. We’ve had members getting ill. We’ve had members getting headaches.
“We’ve had members pass out due to the lack of water. And the bosses have told us that they do not consider it a serious issue. It is a serious issue.”
V&A workers are ready to take on the bosses over both pay and conditions.
A Prospect member told Socialist Worker, “It shouldn’t be the case that you need a rich partner or well-off parents to afford to work in this sector. We should be paid enough to live in this city.”
Another said the conditions at the V&A Storehouse were “like working at Amazon”.
Teige was one of four striking workers from the Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) who visited the V&A rally to offer solidarity.
“It was important for us to be here today because these people are fighting against poverty pay like us,” he told Socialist Worker.
Teige told the rally, “When we first went out, a lot of us were asked, ‘Why would you go out on strike? You must love your job.’ And I’m sure you’ll be asked the same. But whether it’s cancer research or culture, we all need to live our lives.”
The ICR strikers have been taking action since June—and escalated to an indefinite strike last month.
“That’s what made the difference. That’s what made the bosses realise they had to get serious in negotiations,” Teige told the workers.
It’s that sort of spirit that PCS and Prospect members will need in their fight.
Some 95 percent of PCS members voted in favour of strikes on an 87 percent turnout.
Paula said, “If we don’t get an improved offer from the V&A, we’ll be taking action across all sites in the weeks to come, including here in South Kensington.”
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