Museum strike extended by another four weeks

Staff at the National Coal Mining Museum first went on strike in August

A strike by staff at the National Coal Mining Museum in Wakefield has been extended by another four weeks.

Trade union UNISON said the industrial action taken by more than 40 staff members, which first began in August, would now run to Sunday 9 November.

The union accused the museum's chief executive, Lynn Dunning, of showing "no interest in returning to talks" over pay, which is at the heart of the dispute.

The museum said it was "disappointed" at UNISON's decision and that it remained "fully open to constructive dialogue" with the union.

Wakefield Council voted last week to withhold funding from the museum until the dispute is resolved, in an act of solidarity with those on strike.

UNISON has said museum managers had initially pledged to offer workers a pay rise of either 5% or £1 an hour - whichever was greater - for each staff member.

Wakefield Council voted to withhold funding from the museum last week

However, that offer was then downgraded, according to the union, to either 5% or 80p an hour - whichever was greater.

However, the museum said that claim is a "misrepresentation" by UNISON and that no offer of £1 an hour or 5% was "ever agreed".

It also said it was committed to "fair and ethical pay" and its current offer marked an "above inflation" offer for the second year running.

UNISON Yorkshire and Humberside regional organiser Rianne Hooley said: "Staff don't want to be standing on a picket line for months on end, but until the museum and its chief executive get back round the table with an acceptable offer, they've no other option.

"Local councillors are losing faith in the chief executive who has shown no interest in returning to talks."

In a statement, a spokesperson for the museum said it remained "fully open to constructive dialogue with UNISON, to reach a resolution that supports both our staff and our long-term sustainability, and we urge UNISON to meet with the aim of negotiating rather than issuing a demand.

"We do not consider UNISON's current pay claim to be reasonable, equitable or affordable," they added.

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