Further strike dates announced at Brighton Pavilion

BHCC must intervene before the Trust’s financial difficulties lead to bankruptcy, says GMB

GMB members at The Royal Pavilion & Museums Trust in Brighton (RPMT) will take three further days of strike action on Wednesday 3, Thursday 4 and Friday 5 June.

The dispute centres around terms and conditions and had already seen the members take two days of action this April [1].

Discussions with Trust management have failed to reach a resolution, with GMB presenting a proposal which has been rejected, the previous offer withdrawn and no plan for the board of Trustees to meet before July.

Oliver Cruikshank, GMB Regional Organiser said:

“We attended a meeting on Wednesday [27 May] where we presented a fair and reasonable proposal, which offered compromise on certain issues from our members, including pay.

“This was rejected out of hand, with the existing offer no longer on the table and no plans for the board to meet to discuss any further resolution.

“GMB is entering these negotiations in good faith, with agreement seeming close a few weeks ago, but have been faced with a Trust who are not even prepared to discuss the pay rise our members were due in April.

“We understand that the Trust may be facing serious monetary issues, but it is not our members – the lowest paid but most important staff within the Trust - who should shoulder the blame for this nor the responsibility to dig the Trust out of any holes.

“In order to avoid further strike dates being issued, the Trust need to call an urgent meeting, with trustees and decision makers from the Council present, to be able to negotiate with GMB representatives and finally put a stop to this dispute.”

ENDS

Media enquiries: GMB Press Office on 07958 156846 or at press.office@gmb.org.uk

Notes to Editors:

[1]  Previous Press Releases on the dispute:

https://www.gmb-southern.org.uk/brighton-pavilion-easter-weekend-strike

https://www.gmb-southern.org.uk/brighton-pavilion-second-strike-day