More strike dates announced at National Museums Liverpool

PCS members employed at the seven museum and gallery sites across Merseyside are coming to the end of a period of 56 days of strike action, which started on 17 February.

National Museums Liverpool (NML) is the only employer out of over 200 covered by the civil service pay remit guidance to withhold the £1,500 cost-of-living payment.

The eight weeks of strike action taken so far have led to widespread museum and gallery closures affecting 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.

Although there has been some progress in negotiations, an acceptable settlement has not yet been reached, and the members have voted to take further action to increase the pressure on the employer. PCS negotiators are optimistic that NML will act to end this long running dispute by making a decent offer to its staff who are amongst the lowest paid workers in the country.

The members will walk out again on eleven weekends and half term week, from May until July.

The dates in full are: 4, 5 and 6 May, 11 and 12 May, 18 and 19 May, 25 May to 2 June, 8 and 9 June, 15 and 16 June, 22 and 23 June, 29 and 30 June, 6 and 7 July, 13 and 14 July and 20 and 21 July.

The strike action coincides with the planned opening of new exhibitions at World Museum and at the Walker Art Gallery, as well as the busy half term and spring/summer period.

Strike rally

To mark the close of the first period of strike action, on Saturday 13 April the strikers will hold a rally outside the Museum of Liverpool on Liverpool’s waterfront at 10:00am. The rally will be addressed by PCS acting national president Martin Cavanagh and other speakers.

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