Museum strike hits families at half-term

The Science Museum is to close on Wednesday as staff strike over a pay deal they describe as "derisory".

Hundreds of curators, conservators, managers and other employees at London's Science Museum, the National Railway Museum in York and the National Museum of Photography, Film and Television in Bradford will take part.

The strike has been timed to coincide with schools halfterm for maximum impact. Staff claim a 2.5 per cent pay offer is below inflation.

Catherine Craig, negotiations officer for the Public and Commercial Service union, said: "Faced with a pay offer that fails to implement previously agreed improvements and what amounts to a real terms pay cut for many, our members are left with no option but to strike."

Emily Boase of the Prospect union said: "Any inconvenience caused is regrettable and we would advise people to visit on an alternative day."

Prospect said 83 per cent of its 250 members at the museum voted for the strike. Management blame lack of funding and free admission, which has led to the closure of some of the galleries.