English Heritage staff are to strike over pay on the day of the summer solstice.
The Prospect union said English Heritage, which manages tourist locations such as Stonehenge, had imposed a below-inflation pay rise on staff which amounts to 1.5%.
The action will affect leading tourist attractions, from Stonehenge to Hadrian’s Wall, as well as English Heritage’s regional offices in Swindon, Guildford, Cambridge, York, Newcastle, Manchester and Bristol.
Prospect claims the pay rise reflects the poor financial position of English Heritage, which had already lead to a “cull of skilled staff in education and architecture”.
Prospect negotiator Dave Allen dismissed claims from culture secretary Tessa Jowell that “the arts and culture have never before had access to so much public investment” saying that funding to English Heritage was due to be cut by almost 5% by 2007.
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