Mersey Reporter - #Merseybites #News

THE Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) has gone on strike at National Museums Of Liverpool venues. The Union's 200 workers are striking over a dispute around a 1 off £1,500 cost of living payment. The strike action started on:- 17 February 2024 and has resulted in many of the City’s Museums being closed for the next 8 weeks.

The strike follows a vote by PCS union members that found 94% had voted in favor of taking action.

The strike action means close several of the NML museums and galleries are now closed until:- 14 April 2024. Its venues include:- the International Slavery Museum, Maritime Museum, Museum of Liverpool, World Museum, and Lady Lever Art Gallery.

A statement issued by NML said:- "It would be impossible for us to cover the £1,500 cost of living payment agreed by the Cabinet Office for all civil servants, on top of the pay awards we have already given. NML has pay freedom, meaning we are not governed by the civil service pay remit. This also means that NML staff are not civil servants, and we therefore didn't receive any additional funding to cover the payment, unlike some arms length Government bodies. The financial stability of our organisation is crucial for the preservation and promotion of our shared cultural heritage, and this additional payment would set us back a further £750,000, placing us below the minimum legal reserve levels when we are already forecasting a deficit of £2 million."

While its venues will be broadly shut, NML plans to reopen the Museum of Liverpool and Sudley House café, from:- 22 February 2024, but this has not been confirmed.

Ahead of the strike by PCS members, the Union's Culture Group Executive Committee sent a message saying:- "The culture group executive sends solidarity to the NML branch and its strong, growing membership ahead of their strike action. Many times, including in last year's brilliant pickets and rallies at the British Museum and British Library, the group has shown it has huge public support, national and international, in its campaign for decent pay and conditions. We demand the £1500 payment for all NML staff. Show culture some love."

Acting PCS President Martin Cavanagh added:- "Solidarity to all our members in National Museums Liverpool, for the strike action starting this Saturday. It's a cynical manoeuvre by NML to deny you the cost of living payment most other members have received automatically. You will continue to have the national union’s support until you get what you deserve."

Casey Burgess, National Museums Liverpool PCS branch chair said:- "The action we're taking means a lot to our members. They have endeavoured to keep Liverpool’s fascinating stories alive through a cost of living crisis after working through a global pandemic. We’ll keep fighting to make sure that we’re paid fairly for our work."

PCS General Secretary Fran Heathcote added:- "Our members at NML work just as hard as our members elsewhere, so why are they not receiving the same rewards? NML can stop these strikes before they start by doing the decent thing for their staff and paying them what they deserve."