Staff will picket outside the World Museum

Staff and union representatives were picketing five sites - including the World Museum and Walker Art Gallery - in the one-day walkout on Wednesday.

Museum bosses said all the attractions remained open and the public would not be affected by the action.

Members of the Prospect and Public Commercial Services unions are taking the action in a dispute over pay.

They claim an imposed pay offer of 1.8% for 2007 and 1.3% for 2008 amounts to less than half the rate of inflation.

'Reasonable offer'

Paul Noon, general secretary of Prospect, said: "The museum's pathetic pay offer does no justice to our members, the museum itself or the great city of Liverpool.

"Next year Liverpool is the European Capital of Culture and the museum will be promoting the city to millions of visitors.

"To impose a pay cut on staff for two years running while asking them to promote the city's image at home and abroad is nothing less than cynical exploitation."

The museum is funded by central government and bosses have said the pay settlement followed extensive discussion with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and the Treasury.