Union members at the Royal Society of Arts will go on strike for three days next week in the latest in a dispute over pay.
The Independent Workers’ union of Great Britain said members at the 270-year-old charity would walk out on 26, 27 and 28 February as part of a long-standing row.
Union members took strike action over two days in September and last week some speakers pulled out of RSA events in solidarity with workers at the charity.
We’ll continue to strike and #boycottRSA until we’re able to reach a resolution where @theRSAorg workers are paid fairly and treated with respect ✊ please join us outside RSA House next week! (timings tba) pic.twitter.com/vsBsGfWXWO
— RSA Union (@RsaUnion) February 20, 2024
Union members at the RSA said on X, formerly Twitter, the disruption was a “direct consequence of the intransigence and recklessness” of senior management at the charity.
“We look forward to @theRSAorg management coming back to the table with a serious pay offer and a change in attitude.”
A spokesperson for the RSA referred to a statement made by the charity last week, which said: “We have been in a period of negotiation with IWGB for the across-the-board pay award for this financial year for the group of staff they represent (the bargaining unit). We have not reached agreement at this stage.
“Our aim is to do the very best we can to support our staff team and their wellbeing, while at the same time ensuring the financial sustainability of the RSA, both of which are essential to our success.
“Acting in line with the budgetary constraints we face, the average pay increase offered to staff in the bargaining unit for the current financial year is approximately 7 per cent, well above the rate of inflation.
“We made a further offer to the union in December, which was rejected.
“We continue to urge the union to engage in conciliatory discussions (including facilitation by Acas) with us so that concerns can be resolved quickly and amicably in the best interests of our charity, our exceptional staff team and our fellows.”