Statement from the National Coal Mining Museum – 17 October 2025
Updated Statement 17 October 2025
The National Coal Mining Museum said:
“The Charity’s Trustees are very grateful for the continued support of visitors to our free-to-enter Museum and sincerely regret any inconvenience caused by the current industrial action by Unison members.
The majority of our staff continue to work as normal, supported by our dedicated volunteers, and the Museum remains open with a full programme of activities. However, due to the strike, underground tours are temporarily unavailable. We are working hard and offering alternative experiences and rescheduled visits for families, schools, and groups.
We are disappointed that our recent pay offer has been rejected. This included a £1 per hour increase for Museum Guides with specialist skills, such as electricians and fitters, and a 5% uplift for the wider team. After much discussion with Unison, this offer brought the museum’s pay structure in line with, and in some instances over, similar organisations structures.
The proposal also featured Death in Service benefits and a commitment to further review the staffing structure during the coming 12 months.
The Museum remains committed to recognising expertise and rewarding the valuable contributions of all team members. The Board continues to make decisions guided by principles of fairness and affordability. We have reviewed arrangements at similar organisations to use as a comparator and will consider this model going forward as we implement our Succession Plan.
The Charity’s Accounts are published as required and are in the public domain. Sharing a Charity’s internal financial information with external bodies is both unethical and poor practice and would not be expected of any responsible organisation.
Like many charities, we are facing increasing financial pressures, and any offer must protect the museum’s future, ensuring we can continue to share the vital story of coal mining for generations to come.
The Museum is committed to fair and ethical pay. We are proud to be a Living Wage employer and all staff are paid above the Minimum Wage. Despite the challenging economic environment nationally, the Trustees have previously approved an above inflation pay increase of 5% for all employees this year, following an above inflation increase last year. This equates to a 14% rise over two years for many staff, including Museum Guides.
To help resolve the dispute quickly, the Trustees went further, approving an enhanced offer of 5% or 80p per hour, whichever is greater, representing a total increase of over 6% this year, and more than 15% over two years. This offer includes Death in Service benefits and consideration for higher pay rates for specialist skills such as mechanical and electrical work. For Museum Guides, this would result in a pro rata annual salary of over £25,000, well above the 3.2% increase offered by Wakefield Council to its employees in 2025/26 and well above what most other organisations have agreed. This offer was rejected by Unison without balloting their members.
No offer of £1 per hour or 5%, whichever is greater, was ever agreed, by the Executive team or the Board of Trustees. This is a misrepresentation of the pay negotiations by Unison.
The Museum still remains fully open to constructive dialogue with UNISON, to reach a resolution that supports both our staff and our long-term sustainability, and we urge UNISON to negotiate on their rather than issuing a demand.
We do not consider UNISON’s current pay claim to be reasonable, equitable or affordable. Claims based on our reported 2023/24 operating surplus are misleading, as these funds are restricted and designated for specific purposes, and are not available for pay increases.
Contrary to the claims of UNISON, the Charity does not pay any six-figure salaries, and while the strike has led to some additional costs such as security, which is necessary to ensure an enjoyable experience for visitors, these are not at the levels being suggested. We appeal to UNISON and others to desist from sharing misinformation.
The Charity’s Chief Executive and leadership team have the full support of the Board of Trustees in seeking a fair and sustainable resolution.
Whilst not a major funder of the Museum, we are disappointed by Wakefield Council’s recent decision to withhold future funding. The £15,000 received earlier this year through the culture grants programme is supporting local schools and young people and was awarded through a competitive application process. The project is aligned with the Council’s heritage framework and priorities to support community wellbeing and opportunities for children and young people. Regardless of this funding, the Museum will continue to engage with the local communities and foster important partnerships and support residents across the District.
The Charity was disappointed that the written corrections provided by the Museum in advance of the meeting of the Council where this decision was made, were not raised and the museum was given no right to reply.
The Museum would welcome the opportunity to speak directly with the Council Leader and Council Members regarding the current industrial action and is disappointed that the Leader didn’t take up this offer in advance of the council meeting. A written update was provided to clarify misinformation circulated by UNISON during the strike, and it was requested that it was shared with all members before the meeting.
During the industrial action we remain focused on delivering a vibrant programme of events and look forward to welcoming visitors.
Find out more about how this may affect your visit here