National Museums Liverpool strike suspended

Our members at NML have taken more than 60 days of action in protest over the employer withholding a cost-of-living payment, leading 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 Art Gallery, Sudley House and the Lady Lever Art Gallery.

The £1,500 payment, which was part of the government’s pay offer for 2022/23, came as a result of our union’s national campaign, which also doubled the original 2023/24 pay offer to at least 4.5%.

Following talks this week, PCS is putting the employer's improved offer to a ballot of all NML members involved in the dispute in the coming days.

Strike action due to take place during half-term next week (28 May to 2 June) has therefore been suspended. However, a planned strike over the bank holiday (25 to 27 May) is going ahead.

PCS General Secretary Fran Heathcote said: “Our members at National Museums Liverpool were furious at being excluded from a cost-of-living-crisis payment that was paid to civil servants following our national campaign.

"They then went out on picket lines in all weather conditions to fight for what they deserved. It is down to their remarkable determination and creativity that we have negotiated an offer from management which we will put to a vote of all NML members involved in the dispute in the coming days.”