Curse of Low Pay

By New Worker correspondent

In their line of duty archaeologists sometimes have to brave many dangers, such as working in damp ditches whilst digging out half a leather boot or braving the curse of the mummy. Archæologists employed by the Museum of London Archaeology (MOLA) face more a mundane problem however – low pay.

Prospect members working at MOLA have just voted 78 per cent in favour of strike action (with 94 per cent for action short of a strike) over pay and the failure of their management (the wealthiest local authority in Britain, if not the world) to implement a pay structure. Apart from work for the museum, MOLA’s 300 staff undertake archaeological work on behalf of clients in London and further afield, including Crossrail and HS2.

In June the bosses imposed a 2.5 per cent pay award even though it had been rejected by union members who have long been suffering financial hardship due to low pay in one of the most expensive cities in the world.

The dispute also concerns a pay structure that MOLA executive management promised would be in place by April 2019. This undertaking was made to settle an industrial dispute last year but they have now reneged on their commitment. Had the pay structure been in place as promised then staff would have received an incremental rise in addition to a cost-of-living award.

Andy Bye, Prospect’s negotiator, said: “MOLA is in crisis with experienced staff leaving and market share in London going to its main competitor which pays archæologists £2,000 more per year.

“Executive managers have ignored the views of staff and the impact their pay policy and management style is having on MOLA as a whole. With this vote for industrial action, MOLA staff have said enough is enough. If management don’t start listening and paying a fair wage then it’s hard to see how MOLA can continue to operate competitively.”