Royal Observatory staff strike on 11-12 August during solar eclipse event

Staff at the Royal Observatory in Greenwich will walk out on 11 and 12 August, disrupting operations at four Royal Museums Greenwich locations. The strike, called by the Prospect union, follows a ballot in which members voted overwhelmingly in favour of industrial action. The action will affect the Royal Observatory, National Maritime Museum, Cutty Sark and Queen’s House, all in the Greenwich area.

The timing of the strike coincides with a public event at the Royal Observatory, where an on-site viewing of a solar eclipse is scheduled between 4 pm and 8 pm on 12 August. The eclipse is expected to be the most visible from the UK in nearly three decades. The museum group has confirmed it will host the event from the Dolphin Sundial area, as well as an online livestream, as reported by *The Standard*.

Read Next in News London4 min read

Greenwich Market open daily as most Googled local question revealed

Residents and visitors search for practical details about the borough’s landmarks and services

Dispute centres on pay and working conditions

Prospect union members are demanding London Living Wage accreditation, protection of existing Christmas closure annual leave arrangements, paid breaks for security workers and stronger policies on fixed-term contracts. The union said these issues remain unresolved despite progress in other areas.

Royal Museums Greenwich said it has already agreed a two-year pay settlement covering 2026/27 and 2027/28 with Prospect. The museum group added that it has engaged with the London Living Wage Foundation and made commitments during a formal conciliation meeting with ACAS in July. However, the union said these steps have not gone far enough to address its members’ concerns.

Related Borough Coverage4 min read

Thames Water restores supply after second pipe burst near Oxleas Wood

Residents in SE6 experienced low pressure or no water after two leaks on 2 August, with bottled water delivered to priority households.

Our members don’t want to take strike action, but they have been left with no choice by the attitude taken by senior management.

Mike Clancy, General Secretary of Prospect

Mike Clancy, General Secretary of Prospect, said the strike reflects broader frustration across the heritage sector. He told *The Standard* that workers have been taken advantage of for too long and that the union is sending a signal that this will no longer be tolerated. Clancy added that it is not too late for Royal Museums Greenwich to avoid the strike by returning to negotiations.

Museums plan to remain open

Royal Museums Greenwich said it plans to keep all four sites open during the strike. In a statement, the museum group said it is disappointed by the outcome of the ballot but remains committed to maintaining public access. The statement did not specify how services might be affected or whether alternative arrangements have been made for the solar eclipse event.

The strike at Royal Museums Greenwich follows similar action by Prospect members at the V&A earlier this month. The union said the disputes reflect a pattern of underinvestment in staff across the heritage sector. It is unclear whether further strikes are planned if the current dispute is not resolved.

What happens next

The strike will proceed on 11 and 12 August unless Royal Museums Greenwich and Prospect reach an agreement before then. The museum group said it will continue to engage with the union but has not indicated whether it will make further concessions. Prospect has not ruled out additional industrial action if its demands are not met.