by Alexis Edwards, London PCS ARMS secretary, personal capacity
What a brilliant, enthusiastic bunch of young workers, striking for the modest demands of a real living wage — and water!
Along with two other members of the PCS London retired members’ (ARMS) committee, I took solidarity greetings to the picket lines at V&A East (one of the sites of the Victoria and Albert museum). This is joint action by PCS and Prospect unions, fighting for pay that keeps pace with the cost of living, Real Living Wage accreditation, and safe working conditions.
There were over 40 on the picket line at the Storehouse site, chanting and dancing, with Dolly Parton’s ‘9 to 5’ ringing out on the sound system and their beautiful William Morris-themed banner in the background. Meanwhile, the director was hovering across the road photographing the picket line.
At the Storehouse site, strikers heard from chair of the National Shop Stewards Network Rob Williams, and Chip Hamer, PCS National Executive Committee member and also Culture Group Executive Committee, known to many as the ‘Poet on the Picket Line’.
Rob said he had heard mention of management making ‘welfare calls’ to staff. If there was genuine concern, they would ensure safe working conditions and access to water during excessive heat!
Chip reported on the PCS national cost-of-living campaign and that the majority on the NEC is pushing to make this happen.
We then moved on to join strikers from The Young V&A, chanting all the way – they heard us coming! The rally heard the PCS and Prospect general secretaries, but by far the most impressive and passionate speeches came from the strikers themselves.
All these sites were closed and staff were told to report to the V&A at South Kensington, where members are, at this stage, taking action short of strike. Following the two-day strike, action short of strike will continue indefinitely at all sites.
On the Saturday at V&A East, both Rob Williams and Adam Gillman from Socialist Students addressed the strike rally