Cleaners go on strike at British Museum

Published on 29/10/2012 01:00

Cleaners and maintenance staff at the British Museum will go on strike today in a row over privatising their work.

The Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union and Unite said staff at the London museum feared their pay and conditions could be seriously cut if maintenance work is contracted out.

The unions believe senior managers are close to confirming the outsourcing will go ahead, with the new contract starting next April.

Today’s strike will be between 7am and 10am, with plans for more action next Monday, when a museum members’ event is being held.

PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka said: “With the cost of living soaring, the last thing these low-paid workers need is a private company taking over and cutting their wages and working conditions to boost profits and line shareholders’ pockets.

“Cleaners and other museum staff work incredibly hard to maintain this prestigious and popular cultural attraction and we know this is appreciated by the millions of visitors the 
museum attracts every year.

“Introducing the profit motive
is not only unnecessary, it risks undermining these important services to the public.”