V&A Storehouse staff in Newham vote unanimously for strike over breaks

Every collections access officer at the V&A Storehouse in Newham voted to strike, Prospect union confirmed on 29 July. The ballot, which saw nearly 88% of eligible staff participate, followed months of disputes over unpaid breaks and dehydration risks. The Storehouse, which opened in May 2025, allows public access to the museum’s stored collections through its “order an object” service.

Prospect is demanding two paid breaks per day for staff, who currently receive only one unpaid lunch hour. The union said workers, many recruited from the local community, face long shifts on their feet without scheduled relief. A Prospect member told The Guardian that dehydration and headaches were common, with some staff avoiding bathroom visits for entire shifts.

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Wider pay and conditions dispute

The Storehouse ballot is part of a broader dispute involving V&A staff across London. Prospect is seeking a minimum 4% pay rise for workers earning above the London living wage, currently £14.80 per hour. The union also wants the museum to commit to living-wage accreditation within 12 months and improved food provision at its east London sites.

The V&A has offered a 3.6% overall pay increase and a 6.9% rise for its lowest-paid employees. A museum spokesperson said negotiations with the union had been ongoing since February. The spokesperson added that all staff had access to water and toilet facilities, with water fountains installed on every floor of the Storehouse.

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Prospect’s general secretary, Mike Clancy, said the dispute reflected a “shocking lack of respect” for staff. He compared the conditions to those at Amazon warehouses, where unions have also campaigned against inadequate break policies. Clancy told The Guardian: “Visitors will be appalled to learn that the kinds of working practices unions campaign against in companies like Amazon also exist in an internationally renowned heritage institution.”

“We get just one unpaid lunch hour, even though we’re on our feet for long hours, interacting with the public and doing a lot of manual labour.”

Prospect union member at V&A Storehouse

Local recruitment, unequal treatment

Prospect highlighted that many Storehouse staff were hired from the Newham community, a point the V&A had previously emphasised. Union members said this made the lack of paid breaks particularly galling. One worker told The Guardian: “We are the newest department at the V&A. We are the most diverse back-of-house department. It’s not lost on us that we were hired to represent the east London community, but our welfare is being neglected.”

The V&A said it had introduced measures to support staff during recent heatwaves, including additional rest breaks and temporary gallery closures. However, Prospect argued these were reactive and insufficient. The union said fixed, scheduled breaks were needed to ensure staff could leave their posts without leaving collections unattended.

What happens next

Strike dates for V&A staff have not been announced. Across the museum’s London sites, 83% of staff voted in favour of industrial action on an 82% turnout. Prospect said it would meet with members to decide next steps. The V&A has not commented on whether it will return to negotiations before any strikes take place.