The chief executive of the National Coal Mining Museum should resign after attempting to block vital work on a computer system which helps prevent gases from building up underground.
The system monitors the presence of gases and operates fans to help remove fumes from the mine to ensure they don’t breach safety levels.
But a fault with the technology meant it was unable to operate, meaning gases could potentially reach a point where there may be an explosion risk.
Despite more than 40 workers from the museum being on strike, the union agreed with museum managers for the staff member able to operate the system* to go onsite and repair it.
But UNISON was informed that the fix, which was scheduled for Thursday morning, was cancelled by the museum’s chief executive, Lynn Dunning.
The union subsequently contacted HM Inspectorate of Mines, who instructed the museum to reschedule the work, and confirmed to UNISON the original planned work was cancelled by the chief executive.
The repair work was eventually carried out this morning (Friday).
UNISON says the chief executive cannot continue in her position, as she is making decisions which could have disastrous consequences in an effort to save face.
UNISON Yorkshire and Humberside regional organiser Rianne Hooley said: “The chief executive’s behaviour has gone way beyond unprofessional. It’s now become downright dangerous.
“If this crucial work hadn’t been completed, gases could’ve built up and caused an explosion in the mine. That would have caused it to collapse.
“Workers didn’t hesitate about putting the strike to one side to carry out the work to keep the museum safe. It’s deeply concerning the chief executive didn’t do the same.
“The board of trustees now has to act. They must either tell her to resign or remove her themselves.”
Notes:
– *The computer system is the same one used to operate mines. Originally, three people knew how to operate the system on site when it was a working mine. Only one of those three people is still alive.
– More than 40 workers from the museum, including ex-miners, have been on strike in a dispute over pay since Wednesday 20 August. It was due to finish in mid-September but has been extended until Sunday 12 October.
– UNISON has calculated that the museum will spend almost £50,000 on private security guards and a land train during the first month of strike days alone. The museum has not put forward any evidence to contradict the union’s calculation.
– In March, the National Coal Mining Museum put forward a 5% pay offer for all staff, which was rejected. A second offer was made in June via Acas talks of a £1 per hour uplift for mine guides and 5% for everyone else. UNISON said this had the potential effect of giving a greater pay rise to men (who make up the team of mine guides) than women employed elsewhere at the museum.
– UNISON suggested 5% or £1 per hour for all staff, whichever is greater, which the museum’s management said would be put forward as a pay rise suggestion to the board of trustees with a recommendation for acceptance. That was withdrawn 11 days later.
– In a meeting via ACAS less than a week before the strike was due to start, museum management made an offer of 80p an hour or 5% for all workers, whichever is the greater, despite a previous pledge to recommend the museum’s board of trustees accept £1 an hour or 5%.
– The national minimum wage for workers aged 21 and over in the UK is £12.21, as of 1 April 2025. Mine guides typically earn around £12.86 an hour, and many staff are on £12.60 per hour.
– UNISON says the three highest paid managers at the museum are on a combined salary of around £250k. The pay gap between the highest paid employee and the lowest is thought to be more than £120k.
– The museum has made an operating surplus of more than half a million pounds (£596,659). It has also been in surplus for the preceding four financial years. The museum has £10 million in reserves. UNISON believes the £1 per hour or 5% option would only add approximately £150k to the existing pay bill, still leaving the museum with an operating surplus of more than £400k.
