Strike action at the British Library

Motion Text

That this House stands in solidarity with members of the Public and Commercial Services Union employed at the British Library who have voted by a massive 98.23% to take strike action after receiving a second consecutive below-inflation pay offer; notes that during a cost of living crisis and with inflation running at over 4% by the measure of the Retail Price Index, the offer of 2.4% represents a real terms cut to the pay of hard working members; further notes that members are angry at pay inequalities within the organisation, as senior executives are paid up to £170,000 per annum with some in receipt of five-figure bonuses; observes that the frustration of Library users over service disruption following the cyber-attack impacting the Library has resulted in a marked increase in workplace harassment; and therefore calls on British Library management to return to the negotiating table and bring forward an improved pay offer and action plan to tackle a situation where staff are feeling undervalued, overworked and under financial strain.