A great pay win for workers at National Museums Liverpool
The action affected the Museum of Liverpool, the World Museum, the International Slavery Museum and the Maritime Museum, Sudley House, the Walker Gallery and Lady Lever Gallery.
Members at NML took more than 60 days of action after their employer withheld a cost-of-living payment.
The workers have voted to accept an offer of a one-off £1,200 cost-of-living payment, two extra days’ holiday a year and a 35% discount in museum shops and cafes.
The TUC spoke to World Museum housekeeper and PCS rep Stuart Payne about the win.
Origins of the dispute
Stuart told the TUC: “Our pay claim dates back to last year and was part of the PCS national pay campaign in the civil service, which affected 130,000 staff.
“We went on strike three times last year, in February, March and April.
“The culmination of this was that on 2 June 2023, the cabinet office offered civil service staff a one-off £1,500 cost of living payment.
“Out of 207 employers, including 5 national museum groups, ours was one of very few employers who didn’t offer us this payment, as the employer said we weren’t technically part of the civil service.
“They also told us that the board wouldn’t sanction using their financial reserves for this payment, as to deliver it would have cost around £700k.
“This meant that members didn’t get the much needed and promised payment.
“Staff were really disappointed and angry.”
Taking strike action
Stuart said:
We balloted our members at the end of 2023 – we had around 70% turnout and 96% of them voted in favour of strike action.
“We went on strike for 8 weeks from 17 February to 14 April 2024. It wasn’t hard to motivate staff because they were all so fed up that we were being treated like this.
“Morale was high on the picket line, and we were really well supported by our own union – and others including the TUC.
“TUC General Secretary Paul Nowak came down to speak to us and the Solidarity Hub platform was a great support.
“The Solidarity Hub did us a targeted email petition and a strike fund page.
“The money that was raised on that strike fund was used to rent a coffee cart for the picket line, and the leftovers went to our strike fund.”
Offers from management
After the strike action started, the members received an offer from management.
Stuart said: “Management approached us with an initial offer of a £250 one-off payment and free tea and coffee.
“We found this really insulting and it was rejected outright by nearly all of our 250 members.
“A few weeks’ later there was another offer. This time for a £750 payment which was a bit more like it. But this would be split into two payments, so the second half could be in the new financial year.
“This second offer was rejected by 88% of members – even though management said it was a final offer.
“This ‘final offer’ was counterproductive, because as soon as the strike ended on 14 April, the branch executive were looking into next steps.
“Members wanted to carry on the action but in a more targeted way – by striking every weekend and on specific days like during school holidays.”
The red line
Stuart explained that the union wouldn’t accept any less than a £1,000 cost of living payment.
He said: “Our red line was we wanted the payment to be at least £1,000, and we told management not to approach us for negotiations unless that was on the table.
“But we wanted to resolve the dispute. So, we put further proposals to management, however, they were rejected as they didn’t consider them to be equitable.
“Once again, we were at an impasse and staff were getting really angry.”
Finally – a decent offer
Stuart told the TUC: “Unexpectedly, the next day, we received an improved offer of a £1,200 payment, two extra days' holidays in perpetuity and a 35% discount in the museum cafes and shops.
“We felt we could recommend this to members to accept, as it was worth more than the £1,500 one-off payment we wanted.
“We put it to our membership and the majority (66%) voted in favour of accepting it. They knew it was a good offer and that the unions had done well to get this deal.
“It was a real win for us and a good example of what we can achieve through solidarity.”
The offer was put in at the end of May and accepted in June.
This win has paid dividends already. Stuart explained: “People are now confident in the union – we know we are all in this together and we can find solutions to our problems.
“Now we want to build on that community and camaraderie and resolve other issues – like staff who are on fixed-term contracts rather than permanent ones.”
PCS General secretary Fran Heathcote said: “Congratulations to our members at NML who through their strength and determination have won this dispute.
“They stood firm through many months of strike action and have now been rewarded with a significant sum and extra benefits.”
Words of advice
Stuart concluded with a few words of advice for other reps pushing for change.
He said: “I’d say the key is keeping your confidence up and communicating with your members regularly. The feedback from them really encourages you – and you need that through prolonged strike action.
“And stick together. We’ve gained more members through the strike action as people are so inspired by what the union can do when we all work together.”