A controversy regarding employee compensation has arisen at the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) ahead of the inauguration of its latest facility, with a significant public outcry demanding that it adopt a living wage policy for its workforce.
The new V&A East is set to open on Saturday in Stratford, located in east London. This site will feature an array of impressive textiles, photographs, and elements of Black British music. It is part of a broader network of V&A museums, which includes the original establishment in South Kensington, Young V&A in Bethnal Green, and V&A Dundee. The V&A has touted this opening as one of the most important new museum initiatives in the UK.
The original V&A museum was established in 1852 with the goal of “promoting art and design for all” and highlighting creativity and design in various forms. It houses millions of artifacts and has recently hosted prominent exhibitions featuring figures such as Taylor Swift and Naomi Campbell, as well as a collection of photographs from Sir Elton John and David Furnish.
While the V&A adheres to legal minimum wage standards, and some employees receive a living wage or higher, advocates argue that many of the lowest-paid workers and contractors in London are not compensated with the living wage. Currently, the UK minimum wage stands at £12.71 per hour, while the living wage in London is set at £14.80 per hour.
The Living Wage Foundation emphasizes that the living wage is the only wage rate in the UK that accurately reflects the true cost of living.
The worker-led organization Organise, which focuses on enhancing workers’ rights, along with Citizens UK, a campaigning group, has organized an open letter directed at V&A director Sir Tristram Hunt and other senior officials. This letter, which has garnered over 21,000 signatures, demands that all museum employees receive the £14.80 hourly rate. The letter asserts that publicly funded institutions like museums have an obligation to provide all workers with a living wage.
Numerous other cultural institutions, including the National Gallery, the National Theatre, the Tate, and the Imperial War Museum, are recognized as living wage employers. While V&A Dundee holds this accreditation, the London sites of the V&A do not.
Roxy Khan-Williams, the head of campaigns at Organise, stated, “The public expects institutions funded by taxpayers to treat all workers fairly. Paying the real living wage is not just a moral issue – it directly impacts how individuals engage with these institutions.”
Frankie Webster, a community organizer at Citizens UK, added, “At its core, the real living wage is about dignity. Everyone deserves to earn enough to live a decent life. It’s time for the V&A to ensure that every worker is compensated with the real living wage.”
The V&A has been contacted for a response regarding this issue.
