PCS has paused planned strikes at the British Museum after the public body offered a pay deal that will give its lowest-paid officials a 14% pay rise.
The museum has promised a cost-of-living payment of more than £1,500 for most staff, a pay rise above the civil service remit guidance of 4.5-5% and that all that officials will receive the London Living Wage.
More than 150 PCS members in the British Museum’s visitor services and security teams had been set for a six-day strike, starting today (11 July), after the union claimed the body had refused to pay the government’s promised £1,500 cost-of-living payment.
PCS said the museum has now presented an offer for 2023-24 that addresses its members’ main concerns, after a “period of intense negotiations” between PCS and the British Museum.
Mark Serwotka, PCS’s general secretary, said: “Strike action is always considered a last resort. The decision to suspend the strike demonstrates PCS' willingness to engage in dialogue when reasonable offers are made by employers.
“I applaud the dedication and perseverance of the representatives and members at the British Museum branch, who fought tirelessly for this outcome through weeks of strike action and two successful ballots.”
PCS said the the offer “falls short” of meeting the union's entire claim, but includes “significant concessions that resolve the most pressing concerns raised by members”.
The overall award, including both consolidated and non-consolidated elements, amounts to approximately 14% for the lowest-paid officials at the museum, the union said.
Further discussions will take place in the coming days, with the hope of addressing remaining concerns and finalising an agreement, PCS added.
A British Museum spokesperson said: “Following constructive discussions over the weekend we have received confirmation from the Public and Commercial Services Union that their notice to take industrial action has now been withdrawn.
“We’re extremely pleased that the museum will be open to our visitors as normal, and we will continue to work closely with representatives from the trade unions on the details of our pay review for the current year."
PCS has said it will strike at any government organisations which refuse to meet the civil service pay remit guidance, including the £1,500 one-off payment. Yesterday, Serwotka said the decision of some departments to offer the non-consolidated bonus pro-rata meant it is "very likely" the union will not yet be ready to end its pay dispute with government.
“The way the employers have chosen to penalise part-time workers makes it hard for me to say now that I think next week will bring peace and harmony, which is what the government said they wanted," Serwotka said.