More than 300 workers at four V&A sites in London<\/a> \u2013 the museum in South Kensington, V&A East Museum and V&A East Storehouse in Stratford, and Young V&A in Bethnal Green \u2013 are taking part in the ballot.<\/p>\n The V&A, founded in 1852 after the Great Exhibition<\/a>, is described as \u201ca family of museums dedicated to the power of creativity\u201d. Its mission is to \u201cpromote art and design for all\u201d.<\/p>\n V&A East Storehouse in Stratford, east London, a collections and research building, opened in May last year. Photograph: David Levene\/The Guardian<\/p>\n The ballot has been launched during a summer of extraordinarily high temperatures<\/a> and is thought to be one of the first to raise concerns about workplace conditions during a heatwave.<\/p>\n The Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) launched the strike ballot on 23 July owing to \u201cserious and unresolved concerns affecting staff across the museum\u201d.<\/p>\n While pay rates are an issue, with calls for a minimum 4% pay increase, the union has also raised concerns about heat exposure and access to drinking water.<\/p>\n It is calling for management to implement a policy of closing public areas across all four sites when temperatures exceed 30C, introduce heat mitigation measures for back of house workers, and allow staff at V&A East Storehouse to carry and drink water while working in areas where exhibits are on display, rather than waiting for another worker to come and relieve them while they go for a drink.<\/p>\n The union is also calling on V&A to become an accredited living wage employer<\/a> in London. The current London living wage is \u00a314.80 an hour<\/a>. The V&A has confirmed that all its staff are paid at least this rate. However, some of the museum\u2019s outsourced contractors are not in receipt<\/a> of the living wage and V&A has not so far become an accredited living wage employer, although it says this will be reviewed later this year.<\/p>\n V&A Dundee, which is not part of the strike ballot, is an accredited living wage employer.<\/p>\n Part of the PCS complaint concerns access to drinking water during shifts at museum sites such as V&A East Storehouse (pictured). Photograph: David Levene\/The Guardian<\/p>\n Nick Marro, the culture secretary at PCS, said: \u201cPCS members at the V&A are balloting for strike action because enough is enough. Management refuses to let staff carry or drink water while they work, refuses to become a London living wage accredited employer.<\/p>\n skip past newsletter promotion<\/a>Free newsletter | Every day<\/p>\n Sign up to Headlines UK<\/p>\n Get the day\u2019s headlines and highlights emailed direct to you every morning<\/p>\n after newsletter promotion<\/p>\n \u201cAt the same time, it claims it cannot afford a decent pay rise for staff. This is an employer that is failing the very people who keep one of Britain\u2019s most prestigious museums running. It\u2019s unfair, it\u2019s unsafe and our members are prepared to fight back.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1782332000_529_500.jpg\")
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