HRP staff to continue strike as negotiations break down

GMB members at Historical Royal Palaces (HRP) are set to hold three more days of strike action at the Tower of London and Hampton Court Palace following a break down in pension negotiations.

In a statement, GMB London said: “We remain committed to achieving a negotiated settlement but HRP need to get real with what they’re offering our members”.

The most recent pension discussions with HRP on 21 January left members in “fury” and were described as “simply not good enough” by GMB Union.

GMB members working at HRP, including Beefeaters and Jewel House Wardens, have announced the further three days of strike action will take place on 6, 16 and 21 February.

This follows previous strike action on 8 and 22 January after 91 per cent of GMB members at HRP voted to support strike action over HRP’s decision to close employees’ final salary pension and replace it with an “inferior” pension despite “promises made” at the time of privatisation.

GMB regional organiser, Michael Ainsley commented: "GMB remains committed to achieving a negotiated settlement but HRP need to get real with what they’re offering our members.

"Their insistence that their offers have been generous, substantial or fair are farcical. Would anyone who had their wallet stolen by Dick Turpin only to be offered half of it back consider that to be generous?

"HRP dismissing the concerns of 120 defined benefit pension members as only 11 per cent of the workforce and so somehow being irrelevant reinforces our members sense that their long service and loyalty to these Royal Palaces is not appreciated and deepens their sense that they have been betrayed."

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