Workplace Report December 2019

Bargaining news

MOLA staff strike for more money


Members of the professionals’ union Prospect working at the Museum of London Archaeology (MOLA) have taken strike action, along with action short of a strike, including work to rule, commencing on 11 December.


MOLA executive managers imposed a 2.5% pay award in June even though it had been rejected by union members. Management says there is no more money but has not backed up the claim with any figures. 


The dispute also concerns a pay structure that MOLA executive management promised would be in place by April 2019. The undertaking was given by management to settle a pay dispute last year, but they have broken this promise, Prospect said. Had the pay structure been in place as promised then staff would have expected to receive a progression rise in addition to a cost-of-living award.


Prospect is calling for negotiations to reopen to improve the pay award and to discuss the urgent introduction of a pay system that will allow staff to progress through the pay scale for their role/grade.


Prospect general secretary Mike Clancy said: “Industrial action is the only avenue left to members to improve things. Executive managers continue to ignore the views of staff and the impact their pay policy and management style is having on MOLA as a whole. Maybe now managers will listen.”


https://prospect.org.uk/news/mola-archaeologists-to-strike-over-pay