Mining museum strike ends as pay deal reached

A long-running strike by workers at the National Coal Mining Museum has ended after an agreement was reached over pay, a union said.

More than 40 workers at the museum in Wakefield began industrial action last August calling for higher wages.

A spokesperson for Unison said workers were set to receive a 10.5% wage increase, meaning mine guides' pay will rise from £12.86 to £14.21 an hour.

In a joint statement, the museum's CEO Lynn Dunning and chair of the board of trustees Phil Marshall said the pay deal "sits within the Charity's financial parameters and helps to secure the long-term sustainability of this much‑loved national visitor attraction".

Unison said workers had also raised concerns about the maintenance of the mine during the walkout, but workers would now be able to return to work and ensure its proper upkeep.

It said previous pay offers had included "disciplinary clauses" for staff, but these had now been removed.

Unison Yorkshire and Humberside regional organiser Rianne Hooley said: "It's fantastic news that these dedicated workers can return to what they love doing – telling the stories of coal mining and keeping the history alive for future generations.

"It's just a shame this deal has taken so long to reach.

"Staff have been keen to explore different options to get the dispute resolved, but have continually been met with resistance.

"They've even had managers attempt to insert disciplinary clauses into pay deals. Getting those removed has added months on to negotiations.

"Staff have chosen to accept the pay offer so they can get back to work and protect the museum. Securing its long-term future on behalf of the public has always been their main priority."

In their statement, Dunning and Marshall said visitors would "once again be able to enjoy underground tours in due course".

They thanked those staff members who continued to work throughout the "challenging period" of the strike.

"Our shared ambition now is to move forward positively, and continuing our vital work to preserve, celebrate, and share the story of coal mining and the communities it shaped," the statement added.

A museum spokesperson said the pay award, which combined pay rises for two years into one was "significantly higher than the agreed budget and funds available, so will have to be funded through efficiencies".

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