Image: British Museum
Rallies and picket lines in demand of fairer pay are seen outside museums across the UK, ahead of the Spring budget announcement.
Museum workers and members of the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) and Prospect are today taking part in a planned nationwide strike.
Workers from the British Museum, Wallace Collection, DCMS, National Lottery Heritage Fund, National Library of Wales, Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales, and National Museums Scotland are among those taking part.
Picket lines have been seen outside the British Museum, British Library, and the National Archives.
British Museum out in force ✊🚩 #PCSonStrike pic.twitter.com/4uR4NoitDl
— PCS Culture Group (@PCSCultureGroup) March 15, 2023
Brilliant picket line at the British Museum today with @pcs_union and @ProspectUnion members: pay shouldn’t be historic! pic.twitter.com/f1DvkSR0A5
— Kate Bell (@kategobell) March 15, 2023
We're now outside the main British Library entrance #ProspectStrike pic.twitter.com/DPBRwcchvN
— Prospect at the British Library (@ProspectBL) March 15, 2023
We were pleased to be joined by colleagues in @ProspectUnion for a joint picket at the National Archives #BlameTheGovt #PCSonStrike #WalkoutWednesday pic.twitter.com/u1mlEOiUKJ
— PCS Union (@pcs_union) March 15, 2023
Rallies are planned in major cities too, as part of a larger campaign for fair pay, pensions justice and job security in the public sector, coinciding with the Spring budget announcement taking place this afternoon.
PCS said more than 100,000 of its members in the civil service and public sector are expected, with an aim for around 1,000 picket lines.
Today’s action follows a national day-long strike by museum works and PCS members in January, and a nearly week-long strike by British Museum workers and members of the PCS Union in February.
Museums affected by today’s strikes include the British Museum, which has again made entry available only to pre-booked ticket holders, and has warned that galleries may need to close at short notice.
All National Liverpool Museums’ museums and galleries have been closed other than World Museum. Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales’ sites have also been affected, with some closing completely.
Ahead of today’s strikes, PCS said: “The success of our previous strike action shows that we can really make an impact and demonstrates to the government that it needs to take our demands seriously. We are determined to keep the pressure on until the government improves its offer to members.”