Union members working at the city’s museums and galleries are set to vote on a new offer.
The long-running strike at National Museums Liverpool venues, which was set to continue over half-term, has been suspended this week to allow union members to vote on an offer from the organisation.
The PCS Union announced that industrial action which had previously been scheduled to take place from 28 May to 2 June will not go ahead.
Workers at National Museums Liverpool venues who are part of the union have been on strike for more than 60 days now in a dispute over pay.
The industrial action has forced varied temporary closures at its venues; The Museum of Liverpool, World Museum, the International Slavery Museum and the Maritime Museum, the Walker Gallery, Sudley House and the Lady Lever Art Gallery.
The industrial action is in protest over a £1,500 cost-of-living payment which it argues is owed to employees.
National Museums Liverpool argues that the £750,000 total cost of the payment would take it below its legal minimum reserve levels, and as an Arm’s Length Body its employees are not civil servants and do not qualify for the payment.
In ongoing talks, the PCS Union has previously rejected a £750 one-off on-consolidated payment alongside perks including an increase in annual leave.
Following talks this week, the PCS union is now putting a new offer to a ballot of all members.
PCS General Secretary Fran Heathcote said: “Our members at National Museums Liverpool were furious at being excluded from a cost-of-living-crisis payment that was paid to civil servants following our national campaign.
“They then went out on picket lines in all weather conditions to fight for what they deserved. It is down to their remarkable determination and creativity that we have negotiated an offer from management which we will put to a vote of all NML members involved in the dispute in the coming days.”
