V&A staff to strike over pay as UK museum unrest grows
On September 4 and 5, employees at three locations of the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) in London will participate in a strike, following a 95% approval from union members. The Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union revealed the strike dates on August 26. Starting September 4, workers will also limit their duties to contracted hours and decline overtime. Fran Heathcote, the general secretary of PCS, expressed discontent with V&A management's lack of negotiation. This action comes after similar strikes at the Royal Museums Greenwich and the London Museum earlier this year. The unrest among UK museum staff is exacerbated by a 34% increase in living expenses from 2021 to 2026, despite V&A's reported average pay increase of 4.18%.
Key facts
- V&A staff at three sites will strike on September 4-5, 2026.
- 95% of voting union members supported the strike.
- PCS union announced the strike dates on August 26, 2026.
- Fran Heathcote, PCS general secretary, criticized V&A management.
- Royal Museums Greenwich employees struck in August 2026, organized by Prospect union.
- London Museum staff struck on February 19, 2026, and settled in April with a 3.5% pay rise.
- UK living costs rose about 34% between 2021 and 2026 (Office for National Statistics).
- Museums Association survey (705 participants) found 41% expect job cuts due to funding reductions.
- PCS culture group secretary Nicholas Marro reported a surge in V&A union memberships.
- V&A offered an average pay rise of 4.18%, up to 6.9% for lowest-paid roles.
Entities
Institutions
- Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A)
- Public and Commercial Services (PCS)
- Royal Museums Greenwich
- Prospect Union
- London Museum
- Museums Association
- Office for National Statistics
- Artnet
- Victoria and Albert Museum
- V&A East Storehouse
- V&A East
- Young V&A
- Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union
- Prospect union
- BBC
- Prospect
Locations
- London
- United Kingdom