National Museums Liverpool: MP urges negotiations to end strike

Over 200 members of the PCS union walked out in February

An MP is urging museum bosses to get back round the negotiating table and end an ongoing dispute with workers.

Staff at National Museums Liverpool (NML) have been on strike since February in a row over a proposed one-off £1,500 cost-of-living payment.

NML said it made a final offer of £750, plus additional holidays, which the PCS union rejected.

Cas Burgess Branch of PCS union said the current offer did not meet demands and more strikes were possible.

'Jewel in the crown'

Kim Johnson, Labour member for Liverpool Riverside, has appealed to museum bosses to negotiate again.

"I want to see the issue resolved as soon as possible because its impacting not only the workers and the museums but our city," she said.

"This is the jewel in the crown of our cultural offer and it needs to be resolved as soon as possible."

In an online statement Director of National Museums Liverpool, Laura Pye, said the organisation would "continue to meet with PCS to have meaningful conversations about a way forward".

It had reached out to conciliation service Acas (the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service) to mediate a solution, she added.

The current strike action, which is planned to run until 14 April, has seen the Museum of Liverpool, World Museum, International Slavery Museum, Maritime Museum, Walker Art Gallery, Sudley House, and the Lady Lever Art Gallery close.