Museum staff take strike action

Seven museum sites were closed across Wales

Staff at National Museum Wales are holding what is believed to be their first strike in a century over pay.

Members of the PCS union voted overwhelmingly for industrial action, saying the offer fell below inflation.

Staff have also highlighted differences with pay between themselves and Welsh Assembly Government workers.

The museum apologised to the public for the closures at seven sites and called the average 4.9% pay offer "reasonable in the circumstances".

The union said the pay increase offer of between 0% - 2% was below inflation levels, which it said had averaged 4% over the past years, based on Retail Price Index rises.

It also said minimum pay levels for administrative grades at the museums were nearly £3,000 lower than those at the assembly government, even though the assembly government was in charge of the museums.

NATIONAL MUSEUM SITES National Museum, Cardiff National History Museum, St Fagans National Slate Museum, Llanberris National Roman Legion Museum, Caerleon Big Pit: National Coal Museum, Blaenavon National Waterfront Museum, Swansea National Wool Museum, Drefach Felindre

PCS negotiations officer Sian Wiblin said: "We applaud the stance the assembly has taken on low pay and equal pay for its own staff.

"We call on the assembly to work with the museum in order to be able to deliver meaningful pay increases and end low pay."

PCS branch secretary Neil Harrison added: "Members are disgusted with what is happening with their pay.

"This is the first time that PCS members have been provoked into taking industrial action, and we believe it is the first time that the museum will be closed to the public due to strike action in its 101 year history.

"If 8.3% is good enough for assembly members, then why are our members expected to take a pay cut?"

Museum management claimed the average pay rise worked out at 4.9%.

It said during negotiations there had been "recognition by both sides that the money on the table was all that could be afforded".

A spokesman added: "When set alongside other well-publicised pay offers in the public sector, the settlement was viewed by the management as being reasonable in the circumstances."

The museums will reopen on Friday, 4 April.