STRIKE IS OFF
Museum staff back
A LONG-RUNNING pay dispute at National Museum of Wales sites across the country ended last Tuesday after staff voted to accept an improved offer from management.
Workers at the National Slate Museum in Llanberis were the first to return to work after a nine-week strike.
The group gathered outside the museum entrance and marched in together waving PCS union flags.
PCS representative Elfyn Jones-Roberts said: “After nine weeks of being out on strike we returned this morning satisfied with our result and looking forward to starting with a clean slate.”
The dispute began when management announced it intended to cut weekend premium payments. With most museum staff expected to work weekends – some have only one Sunday off in three – this amounted to a substantial pay cut, especially for the lower paid.
The deal now accepted includes compensation payments worth five years of allowances, doubling the previous offer, and an increase in basic pay of at least 4% for the lowest paid.
Mr Jones-Roberts added the mood among the workers was one of relief the dispute had been settled. “But we also feel we secured a victory. We do not think we would have secured the improved offer without taking strike action,” he said.
“In the past nine weeks we have grown much closer together having picketed the main entrance throughout. We will concentrate now on building bridges with management.”
A series of one day strikes did not resolve the dispute and at the end of April indefinite strike action was called at seven of the eight sites. But in a ballot after the latest offer, 78% voted to accept on an 81% turnout.
PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka said: “This resounding vote brings to an end an incredible campaign by museum staff who can be very proud of what they’ve achieved through standing together. They are truly inspirational and I pay tribute to each and every one of them, and they can now go back to the jobs they love with heads held high.”
David Anderson, Director General of National Museum of Wales, said: “I am very pleased that we have reached an agreement and the dispute has come to an end.”
Among the other museums affected have been the National Museum in Cardiff, Big Pit at Blaenavon, the National History Museum in St Fagans and the National Wool Museum in Carmarthenshire.