V&A South Kensington Strike: What's Open 25 and 26 Sep

Most of the V&A in South Kensington is shut to visitors today and tomorrow, Friday 25 and Saturday 26 September, while staff strike over pay and conditions.

The museum’s South Kensington visit page says it is “operating a reduced visitor offer which may disrupt your visit” on both days. Three things stay open:

• the Schiaparelli: Fashion Becomes Art exhibition
• the café
• some ground floor galleries

The V&A has not said which ground floor galleries those are. If you are going to see something in particular, assume it may be closed until Sunday.

Who is striking and why

Members of two unions, Prospect and PCS, are walking out in parallel disputes that have been coordinated onto the same dates. Prospect says this strike covers South Kensington only, but that it remains in dispute at the V&A’s other London sites: V&A East, V&A East Storehouse and Young V&A.

Prospect’s demands are that the V&A:

• pays a minimum 4% rise to staff earning above the Living Wage
• pays time-and-a-half for Bank Holiday working
• becomes an accredited London Living Wage employer within 12 months
• improves food provision for staff at the V&A East sites

Prospect also says the museum’s director, Tristram Hunt, “has continued to refuse to take part in any arbitration talks” and that the V&A has not come back with a revised offer.

PCS says its members want an acceptable pay offer and Real Living Wage accreditation. They are also pressing on health and safety. That includes suitable seating, access to drinking water, and a policy of closing public-facing areas when the outside temperature reaches 30 degrees.

What the V&A says

In a statement published on 22 September, the museum said it “deeply regret[s]” the vote to strike. It says it has negotiated “in good faith since February” and has met most of the unions’ demands with “a significantly improved offer, which we believe is fair, competitive and affordable”.

The V&A says all its staff are paid the London Living Wage and have been for many years, although it is not accredited. It also says it paid staff a “sector-leading bonus” last year, and that all staff have regular access to water, toilets and breaks. During this summer’s heatwaves, it says, it closed several galleries at South Kensington and closed Young V&A altogether at the peak.

It says it remains available for negotiations.

This is the second round

The first strikes were in east London. Prospect reports that V&A East, V&A East Storehouse and Young V&A were closed on Friday 4 and Saturday 5 September.

PCS says its members at every V&A site, South Kensington included, also began open-ended action short of a strike from 4 September. That means an overtime ban, working to rule and a withdrawal of cooperation.

Neither union has announced further dates. Prospect says the timing of any action at the other London sites “will be decided in due course”.

What it means for you

• Today and tomorrow: if you want the full museum, go on Sunday 27 September or later. The Schiaparelli exhibition is the one show the V&A has confirmed is open.
• Young V&A, V&A East Museum and V&A East Storehouse are open as usual on both days, according to their own visit pages (Young V&A, V&A East). Some free and ticketed events at those venues may still be affected by the South Kensington strike.
• Booked on an event? Check with the museum before you travel.
• Getting there: South Kensington station is a five-minute walk, and the tube station’s own step-free upgrade has just gone to contract. For other disruption in the area, see our Kensington roadworks and travel page.

Normal hours at South Kensington are 10am to 5.45pm daily, and until 10pm on Fridays. The V&A has not said whether tonight’s late opening is affected. Admission to the permanent collection is free.