Last-ditch talks on museum strike

National Railway Museum staff have voted for industrial action

Unions are holding last-ditch talks to try to avoid staff at four museums going on strike in a row over pay.

More than 200 specialist staff across the four sites of the National Museum of Science and Industry have voted for a series of one-day walkouts.

The Prospect union is holding a final meeting with museum management.

The Science Museum in London, National Railway Museum in York, National Media Museum in Bradford and the Science Museum near Swindon would be affected.

Prospect said its members had not received a pay offer due last April.

The staff, including museum curators, conservators and managers, voted for the walkouts by a majority of nine to one last week.

Emily Boase, Prospect's negotiations officer, said: "Members have had to endure an effective pay freeze for 10 months.

"We are giving the museum a last chance to save the public from a totally unnecessary dispute."