Staff at the Royal Observatory in Greenwich have voted to strike on the day of next week’s solar eclipse, in a dispute over pay and working conditions.
Strike dates and demands
Members of the Prospect Union overwhelmingly backed strike action on 11 and 12 August at four Royal Museums Greenwich locations in London. The workers are campaigning for London Living Wage accreditation, protection of existing Christmas closure annual leave arrangements, paid breaks for security workers and stronger policies on fixed-term contracts.
Affected sites include the Royal Observatory, National Maritime Museum, Cutty Sark and Queen’s House.
Eclipse viewing coincidence
The strike coincides with the best solar eclipse visible from the UK in almost 27 years. The Royal Observatory is hosting an on-site viewing of the solar eclipse from its Dolphin Sundial area between 4pm and 8pm, as well as an online livestream.
The industrial action comes just days after Prospect Union members working at the V&A voted to take strike action in two disputes over pay and conditions.
Union response
Mike Clancy, General Secretary of Prospect, said: “Our members don’t want to take strike action, but they have been left with no choice by the attitude taken by senior management.
“We’ve already achieved progress, having recently agreed a two year pay settlement with RMG after successful negotiations. It is not too late to for them to avoid this strike they need to keep negotiating and give us some movement on what are very reasonable demands.
“Across the heritage sector our members have been taken advantage of for too long. This summer we are sending a signal that they will not put up with it anymore.”
Royal Museums Greenwich statement
In a statement, Royal Museums Greenwich said: “RMG has been in constructive negotiations with Prospect including a formal ACAS conciliation meeting in July. Those negotiations have already produced a two-year pay settlement covering 2026/27 and 2027/28, which has been agreed by Prospect and implemented.
“The remaining areas of dispute relate to a small number of non-pay matters on which the Union and RMG has already had a meeting with ACAS, who recorded progress and a constructive way forward as RMG made a series of commitments, including engagement with the London Living Wage Foundation.
“Prospect members have voted in favour of strike action, and we have received notice of discontinuous strike action on 11 and 12 August. We are disappointed by this outcome, particularly given the progress which has been made.
“RMG plans to keep the Museum sites open to maintain the provision of service to the public.”
