Gates of the British Museum close in front of a PCS picket line (image - @PCSCultureGroup)
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Strikes force closure of British Museum, Museum of Liverpool

Image: Gates of the British Museum close in front of a PCS picket line (image - @PCSCultureGroup)

As part of nationwide industrial action, strikes have forced the British Museum and the Museum of Liverpool to close their doors today.

Multiple museums have announced their closure today following a one day strike by members of the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS).

The British Museum announced that the industrial action had caused the decision.

It said: “This is not a decision taken lightly and we apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.”

Around 100,000 members from 123 employers across the civil service and related areas are expected to strike today, the trade union said.

Also among the museums to close is the Museum of Liverpool, which said this morning that it will reopen tomorrow, Thursday 2 February.

The Walker Art Gallery, Lady Lever Art Gallery and Sudley House, also part of National Museums Liverpool, have closed.

A picket line was pictured outside the Maritime Museum this morning at Royal Albert Dock, which is also home to the International Slavery Museum.

National Museums Scotland has also seen disruption caused by strikes. It announced this morning that the National War Museum and the Doctor Who Worlds of Wonder exhibition would be closed today, but the National Museum of Scotland remains open.

PCS picket lines have also been pictured outside the Wallace Collection, which has not announced a closure at the time of writing.

The strikes are part of what the trade union called a “significant escalation of industrial action after a month of strikes over pay, pensions, redundancy terms and job security.”

Its campaign is for a 10% pay rise, pensions justice, job security and no cuts in redundancy terms.

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