Liverpool museum workers to strike until July

Museum workers in Liverpool have announced a further 30 strike days stretching into the summer.

The more than 200 Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union members employed by National Museums Liverpool have already taken 56 days’ action over the non-payment of a cost-of-living bonus.

The action led to widespread gallery closures affecting the Museum of Liverpool, the World Museum, the International Slavery Museum and the Maritime Museum, as well as the Walker Gallery, Sudley House and the Lady Lever Art Gallery.

The new action will see members walk out at eleven weekends and half term week from May until July. It will hit two new exhibitions – Bees: a story of survival at the NML world museum from May 4-6 and National Treasures: Velazquez in Liverpool in the NML Walker Art Gallery on May 11 and 12.

PCS general secretary Fran Heathcote said: “Our hard-working members at National Museums Liverpool love their jobs but are angry and feel undervalued because NML is the only one of more than 200 employers covered by the civil service pay remit guidance to withhold the £1,500 cost-of-living bonus.

“This dispute can be easily resolved if the employer agrees to pay our members what they are owed. If the employer fails to do that, our members will go back on strike over the next three months.”

PCS acting national president Martin Cavanagh will speak at a rally outside the Museum of Liverpool on Liverpool’s waterfront at 10am tomorrow (April 13).

The full list of strike dates is May 4, 5, 6, 11, 12, 18, 19, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30 and 31, June 1, 2, 8, 9, 15, 16, 22, 23, 29 and 30, July 6, 7, 13, 14, 20 and 21.

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