Alistair Hardaker | Image: View of Weston Collections Hall, which features over 100 mini curated displays, at V&A East Storehouse. Image by Kemka Ajoku for V&A
Workers at V&A Museum, V&A East Museum, V&A Storehouse and Young V&A to strike in coordinated union action.
V&A workers at two unions are set to take further strike action across its four sites in an ongoing dispute over pay and working conditions.
Workers at the V&A Museum in South Kensington, V&A East Museum, V&A Storehouse and Young V&A will strike on Thursday 29 and Friday 30 October 2026, falling over half-term for many schools.
The PCS union claims it has yet to receive an improved pay off from the V&A after talks, and remains in dispute over a range of issues.
It says it is in dispute with the museum over a minimum 4% base pay award, London Living Wage accreditation, heat mitigation, a better subsidised food offer at the East sites, and improvements to the industrial relations framework.
PCS general secretary Fran Heathcote said: “Staff deserve fair pay, safe working conditions and respect. We urge the V&A to make meaningful progress and resolve this dispute.”
Members of the Prospect union are also to escalate their industrial action, having coordinated with PCS members who are also striking on those days in a parallel dispute.
Prospect is demanding the V&A deliver a minimum 4% pay increase for staff earning above the Living Wage, pay time-and-a-half for Bank Holiday working, become an accredited London Living Wage employer within 12 months, and improve food provision at V&A East sites.
Mike Clancy, General Secretary of Prospect, said Prospect members are “dedicated to their jobs, and it is these dedicated staff who make the museum the world-class attraction it is.
“That Tristram Hunt can’t even be bothered to take part in the negotiations himself shows the level of disdain in which he holds his staff.”
In a statement the V&A said: “We are currently assessing the impact of strike action and will provide more information to visitors as soon as possible. We regret that the Trade Unions have voted again for strike action, we remain in close negotiations and have met the majority of their demands. We value our staff enormously and remain fully committed to providing safe, supportive working environments in all our museums.
“Our latest pay offer delivers a pay rise well above inflation for all staff, with an average 4.18% pay rise and a 6.9% increase for our lowest-paid colleagues; increased bank holiday pay to 1.5, alongside a sector-leading bonus scheme and a subsidised food offer for staff at all V&A sites. All our staff are already paid at least the London Living Wage – and work is underway reviewing accreditation.”
