Staff say agreed pay changes have not been implemented

Hundreds of staff are set to walk out on a one-day strike during the week beginning 14 February, to coincide with the school half-term holidays.

London's Science Museum, the National Railway Museum in York and the National Museum of Photography Film and Television, Bradford, will all be hit.

Staff have rejected a 2.5% pay offer, which unions say was below inflation and "derisory".

Job losses

They said the exact date of the walk-out by members of Prospect and the Public and Commercial Services Union would be announced next week.

Prospect represents curators, conservators, technical staff and managers, while the PCS represents warders, managers, security and administrative workers.

Prospect said the offer did not offer pay progression and even fell short of the Treasury's 3.5% cap on public sector settlements.

Staff are also unhappy that agreed changes to their pay and grading structure have not been implemented, saying they have already been paid for through job losses and restructuring.

Management have blamed lack of funding and free admission, which has led to the closure of some of the Science Museum's galleries.

Galleries closed

Prospect negotiator Emily Boase said: "Previous below-par pay settlements were agreed on the basis that there would be 'jam tomorrow'.

"But not only does this award amount to a pay cut for our members, the museum is now saying that it has insufficient funds to implement agreed improvements to the pay and grading structure.

"These changes have already been paid for by job losses and restructuring.