V&A director’s refusal to attend talks is ‘shocking’ and ‘disrespectful’

With a strike ballot underway, the time has come for Tristram Hunt, director of the V&A Museum, to come to the bargaining table, says PCS & Prospect. 

PCS members who work for the Victoria and Albert (V&A) Museum in London are being balloted over industrial action until 20 August. They are considering strike action over pay, conditions and dignity at work.

V&A management has failed to offer an acceptable pay offer for workers or become a Real Living Wage accredited employer.

PCS members are also demanding 1.5x pay on bank holidays and heat mitigation measures.

Fran Heathcote, PCS General Secretary, said:

Our members at the V&A feel completely disrespected by V&A management. They work hard to deliver a service – and when the Director refuses to meet with workers it shows why they are voting for industrial action.

For one of Britain’s major museums not to be an accredited Real Living Wage employer is a national scandal. Our members are standing up for decent pay and conditions, including proper access to drinking water.

In a joint statement Prospect and PCS said:  

Our disputes are about pay and conditions but more than that, they are about V&A respecting our members. That Tristram Hunt is refusing to even meet with negotiators shows what little regard he holds his staff in. These are the people who make the V&A what it is but the message he is sending is that he is not interested in resolving this dispute.

Disputes like this can only be solved by negotiation. If Tristram Hunt and the V&A want a resolution they need to start showing that they care about their workforce and get properly back around the negotiating table.

Our members want to show solidarity with each other and as such we will be cooperating in out forthcoming industrial action to maximise the prospect of a swift positive result for members.