V&A suspends half-term walkout after new pay offer

Staff at the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) suspended a planned strike for this half-term after management presented a revised pay offer. The walkout was originally scheduled for Thursday and Friday. The suspension allows for final negotiations mediated by the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (Acas).

The dispute centers on pay and working conditions. Unions representing museum employees are seeking a 4% pay rise for staff earning above the living wage. They also want the V&A to become an accredited London living-wage employer within 12 months. The London living wage currently stands at £15.45 an hour.

The unions are also demanding time-and-a-half pay for work on bank holidays. Additional demands include better provisions during heatwaves and improved food options at the museum's sites in east London. Staff had previously complained about inadequate toilet and hydration breaks.

Management offered an average pay increase of 4.18%. The lowest-paid colleagues will see a 6.9% rise. The offer also includes increased bank holiday pay to 1.5 times the normal rate. A sector-leading bonus scheme and a subsidised food offer for staff at all sites are part of the package.

The V&A had planned to close its main galleries in south Kensington. V&A East, V&A Storehouse, and Young V&A in east London would also have been shut. With the strike suspended, all museums will remain open this week. Some public events may still be cancelled or postponed.

Two separate two-day strikes already occurred in September. Paula Lamont, national secretary of Prospect, said the union will enter talks in good faith. Mike Clancy, Prospect's general secretary, earlier criticized V&A director Tristram Hunt for not personally leading the negotiations.

The V&A states that all its direct staff are paid at least the London living wage. However, some outsourced contractors are not paid at that rate. V&A Dundee is an accredited living-wage employer and is not part of this specific dispute.