11 January 2018
The National Maritime Museum, Greenwich. Photo Morio (CC-BY-SA 3.0)
Over 25 members of the trade union Prospect braved freezing weather on 1 January 2018 to picket the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich in protest against proposed contractual changes.
Sales assistants, guides, public assistants struck against proposals from the museum to cut workers paid rest breaks, cut the number of breaks, redefine shifts and utilise the time stolen to extend opening hours.
The cuts in breaks negates the recent 3 per cent pay increase as the museum plays off its offer to pay the National Living Wage against the overall terms and conditions package staff would have received.
It is literally robbing Peter to pay Paul except all the benefit ends up with the National Maritime Museum.
Prospect members responded to management’s attack with a very symbolic but effective strike on New Year’s Day. The dispute is set to continue.