The planned strike at all four Victoria and Albert Museum sites has been suspended, giving management and union representatives time to continue negotiations. The action had been scheduled for October 29 and 30 amid disagreements over pay and workplace conditions.
The V&A says its latest proposal includes an average 4.18% pay rise, with a 6.9% increase for its lowest-paid staff. It also offers time-and-a-half for bank holiday work, a bonus scheme and subsidized meals across the museum network.
Unions Prospect and the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) are seeking a minimum 4% increase for staff earning above the living wage, as well as the V&A's accreditation as a Real Living Wage employer. Their requests also include improvements to staff facilities and working conditions, including access to drinking water and cooling in back-of-house areas.
The V&A East Storehouse has been a central point in the dispute. The museum has rejected union claims about conditions there, while staff have raised concerns about access to water and breaks. The new offer has opened a further opportunity for talks with the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service.
All V&A museums are expected to open this week, with exhibitions and planned half-term activities going ahead; some events may be changed. Continued dialogue could help shape more sustainable working conditions while supporting the museum's public programme.
