Star date: 30th August 2019

13% PAY DECREASE FORCES MUSEUM STAFF TO STRIKE

Today, members of the Prospect trade union working at the Manchester Science and Industry Museum held a 24 hour strike following four days of working to rule, as their wages have plummeted while the director of the Science Museum Group has received annual bonuses worth more than many workers earn in a year.

"In the last ten years staff have had in real terms a 13% decrease in pay" explained Museum worker Max Hamilton "Also some of our floor staff are still being paid four per cent below the living wage..."

Full details here...

Tomorrow's world - Yesterday's wages...

Today, members of the Prospect trade union working at the Manchester Science and Industry Museum held a 24 hour strike aimed at forcing their national employer, the Science Museum Group, to open negotiations over a decent standard of pay.

"Over the last few years we have had below inflation pay rises which has meant that in the last ten years staff have had in real terms a 13% decrease in pay" explained Museum worker Max Hamilton "Also some of our floor staff are still being paid four per cent below the living wage which I think for the job that they do is not really on."

Science and Industry Museum workers do all sorts of jobs, from curating the actual exhibitions, to working with schools to turn pupils onto science, to taking care of the buildings themselves. For the last four days, they have worked to rule but today's all out strike was to send a stronger message to bosses...

"Due to the nature of our job we are often expected to work longer hours, and more often than not that is not a problem because people here are really passionate about their job" said Alex "But people are struggling more and more because their wages are going down and down and they are going to be unable to do the job that they love and therefore the quality is just going to go down.

"There's been no negotiations whatsoever, so the aim of this is to bring them back to the table to re-open negotiations" he added "We've had loads of support from the public and other unions in the area. We want our salaries to go up with inflation and we want our floor staff to be paid the real living wage. If they don't come back to the table there is likely to be more industrial action..."

The strike affected not only the Manchester Science and Industry Museum but six other museums around the country, and like the flyer given out at the picket line states, these Science Museum workers are showcasing 'Tomorrow's world' – but are given 'Yesterday's wages'...

For a full background see previous Salford Star article – click here