More than 400 members of the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) in English Heritage sites are being balloted on possible strike action over pay. The PCS says new pay proposals will divide staff into two classes and will lead to lower wages. Catherine Craig, PCS negotiations officer for English Heritage, said, “English Heritage is already recognised as a poor payer. Rather than raise pay rates to acceptable and fair levels across the board, the visitor operations staff are being asked to foot the bill for better pay rates for others. This is demoralising.” The ballot ends on July 10.
The PCS has also condemned the British Council’s plans to cut staff by 40% over the next two years and consider offshoring work to India. Union general secretary Mark Serwotka, “We have been given very little consultation over these proposals.”
English Heritage denied that the pay deal would lead to job cuts and said all staff would get a 2% rise. A spokesman said the other staff union, Prospect, had accepted the offer. As talks were still going on, the strike vote was “premature.”