Managers’ failure to come clean over finances at the National Coal Mining Museum in Wakefield is prolonging a long-running pay dispute.
The union says it has repeatedly asked for clarity on the museum’s financial position in an effort to find a solution that suits all parties.
Staff, who’ve been on strike since mid-August, submitted six questions to the museum last month, following a pledge from bosses that these would be answered*.
However, no response has been provided and UNISON says it hasn’t received any correspondence from the museum since then.
The refusal to answer questions after encouraging workers to submit them is another bizarre move from chief executive Lynn Dunning.
Dunning has previously called the police to a picket line, spent tens of thousands of pounds on private security and attempted to include a clause in a pay offer which would’ve seen staff disciplined when they returned to work.
UNISON Yorkshire and Humberside regional organiser Rianne Hooley said: “Staff don’t understand why managers are refusing to respond to the questions about museum finances they were asked to submit in writing.
“The workers love this museum and they’re doing everything they can to understand what the museum can afford and find a settlement that suits everyone.
“But that’s incredibly difficult when the museum won’t share basic information, and the chief executive has spent more on private security than it would cost to resolve the dispute.
“Museum managers have the power to bring this strike to a close by being open and honest with workers.”
Notes:
– *In mid-January, the museum rejected proposals from the workers aimed at resolving the dispute. When staff asked for more details on the attraction’s finances they were told to put their concerns in writing.
– In December, UNISON called for the museum to publish its spending on private security, which has been in place for the entirety of the strike.
– More than 40 workers have been on strike at the National Coal Mining Museum since August 2025 in a pay dispute. The industrial action is scheduled to run until the end of June 2026 unless an acceptable offer is put forward.
