Funding withheld as mining museum strike continues

People have been on strike over pay at the National Coal Mining Museum in Wakefield since August

Council funding for the National Coal Mining Museum has been "withheld" until strike action in a row over workers' pay is resolved.

Staff at the tourist attraction in Wakefield began a four-week strike in August calling for higher pay.

The strike was extended to 12 October after the union Unison said the museum's chief executive refused to return to pay talks.

In a statement, the attraction said it was "disappointed" by the council's decision, despite it not being a "major funder of the museum", adding it would welcome the opportunity to speak to council members about the industrial action.

At a meeting on Wednesday, Wakefield Council voted unanimously in favour of a motion aimed at resolving the dispute, with councillors criticising museum leaders and saying the attraction was "at risk".

According to Unison, some staff at the attraction, where visitors can get a lift 459 ft (140m) down the mine shaft and learn about the UK's mining history, were earning about £12.60 an hour.

Most of those on strike were guides who led underground tours, and some had been involved in the year-long miners' strike of 1984-1985, a union spokesperson said.

'Deeply concerned'

Proposing the cross-party motion at a full council meeting, Labour councillor Andy Nicholls said: "The museum wouldn't be half the museum it is today without the mine guides who provide education, inspiration and enjoyment for thousands of visitors every year.

"None of this is possible without their dedication, skills and passion, which bring the history of the coal mining industry to life.

"I'm deeply concerned that talks between management and Unison have not resulted in a fair resolution and an offer previously on the table has now been replaced with a lower one."

Nicholls, who addressed museum workers watching the meeting from the public gallery, said: "I want this to be loud and clear – I stand with you, we stand with you, this council stands with you."

He added: "It's time for management to get back round the table for meaningful talks.

"An empty mine without a guide is just a big black hole."

The strike means that underground tours at the museum have been halted

Jakob Williamson, leader of the Unity group, told the meeting the museum received "a lot of money" from the council in various grant applications.

"It's important that we support the workers to get the settlement that they want," Williamson said.

"I think they are grossly, criminally, underpaid for the work they do."

Denise Jeffery, leader of the Labour-run council, said: "We have to win this dispute because I fear for the future of the mine.

"I do know the trustees and I'm afraid most of them are not from our district – they are across the country.

"I hope today, because we have brought it to public attention, this embarrasses them into coming to the table."

Jeffery said she would continue to try to make contact with museum trustees, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

She said: "We will withhold the funding but I feel I must have one last go as well to get to the trustees.

"I have tried, and I will try again, because it matters so much to us here."

The council also agreed to ask the Charity Commission to investigate the ongoing industrial action.

In its statement, the mining museum said a written update had been provided "to clarify misinformation circulated by Unison during the strike".

"The charity, which provides the free-to-enter museum, remains committed to fair and ethical pay, and is a living wage employer - no staff member is paid the minimum wage," it said.

The statement added that the trustees "had approved an enhanced pay offer of 5% or an additional 80p per hour, whichever is greater, across the organisation".

It continued: "For many staff, including museum guides, this represents a total increase of over 6% this year, and more than 15% over two years.

"The museum remains fully open to constructive dialogue with Unison, to reach a resolution that supports both our staff and our long-term sustainability - we urge Unison to meet with the aim of negotiating rather than issuing a demand."

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