STAFF at the British Museum are set to strike for six days next month as part of a national campaign over Civil Service pay, pensions, job security and redundancy terms, their union warned today.

The Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) said its members at the central London institution will withdraw their labour between July 11 and 16.

Despite the government’s belated recommendation that all employers pay staff a one-off cost-of-living payment of £1,500, the museum is “currently refusing to do so,” the union said.

PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka said: “It’s an outrage that even after the government recognised the need for our members to be given more financial support during the crippling cost-of-living crisis, the British Museum is refusing to pay it.

“Our members’ sacrifices during the national campaign of strike action is what forced the government to recommend the payment and the rebuff is deeply insulting.”

Mr Serwotka, who is set to retire in the new year after nearly a quarter of a century at the top of PCS, warned of “further disruption” if bosses continue to refuse to make the payment.

A museum spokesperson told the Morning Star that it has "not refused to pay a non-consolidated £1,500 lump sum to staff.

"As a Freedom Body, the museum is not subject to the government’s pay remit guidance and sets its own pay awards. 

"We are saddened that PCS are taking this action, as we have an open invite to the three unions we work with, including PCS, to sit down and discuss this year’s pay settlement – including the possibility of a lump sum payment - and are prepared to talk at any time."