V&A Storehouse Workers Vote to Strike Over “Amazon-Style” Conditions
Staff members allege they were “denied sufficient time during the day for toilet breaks or for drinks.”
Prospect union members at the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) have voted overwhelmingly to strike, citing concerns over working conditions, particularly during recent heatwaves, as well as over pay. Collections access officers at the V&A East Storehouse, which opened last May, are denied sufficient time for toilet breaks or hydration during their shifts, according to Prospect.
The union demands two paid 15-minute breaks, in addition to the one currently offered. The V&A has offered a 3.6% increase in the overall pay bill, a minimum above-inflation pay award, and a 6.9% increase for the lowest-paid staff. However, Prospect claims the offer is too low, and the union is also calling for a minimum 4% pay increase for staff earning above the Living Wage, pay time-and-a-half for bank holiday work, and accreditation as a London Living Wage employer within 12 months.
A separate ballot by the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) resulted in a similar vote to strike. The PCS union cites unpaid water breaks and extreme working conditions in the heat as reasons for their industrial action. The museum's response asserts that staff have access to water and toilet facilities, and have been given additional breaks and measures during the recent heatwave.
Written by urgent.news from The Art Newspaper's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
