Staff at the Royal Society of Arts (RSA) have voted to go on strike for the first time in the organisation’s 270-year history.
On Tuesday, staff at the charity who are members of the Independent Workers’ Union of Great Britain (IWGB) voted overwhelmingly – 93% – in favour of the strike, having rejected a pay offer by the organisation.
The RSA initially offered all staff members a flat £1,000, averaging a 2.5% annual increase across the board. Staff rejected the offer and have asked for a flat pay rise of £2,800 for employees who are part of the bargaining unit.
The RSA is a charity that describes itself as a “unique global network of changemakers enabling people, places and the planet to flourish in harmony”. The organisation is made up of 31,000 members from across the world, known as fellows, who pay an annual subscription fee of £198.
Previous members include Karl Marx, Charles Dickens and Nelson Mandela. The former Bank of England economist Andy Haldane became its chief executive in April 2021.
Notice for industrial action has been given for 19 and 21 September, which coincides with the RSA hosting its president, Princess Anne, for an awards ceremony.
In a statement, IWGB members at the RSA said the organisation’s management had entered pay negotiations in “bad faith”.
The statement added: “Our relationship with management has further deteriorated over this process, with members of the leadership team choosing to use intimidatory tactics to divide and demoralise the workforce – a majority of whom are union members.
“Staff at the organisation have made the democratic decision to ballot to strike due to this impasse, and, as we have communicated with the RSA, are open to constructive negotiation when management are willing to move from their initial position and discuss a serious pay offer.”
Alex Marshall, the IWGB president, said: “Throughout the union recognition process and now pay negotiations, Andy Haldane and his team have cynically attempted to undermine democracy, sow division and impose a meagre raise during a cost of living crisis.
“Meanwhile senior management not only enjoy bumper salaries but are also sat on reserves of £32m. The result of the ballot reflects workers’ resolve to win the pay rise they deserve and they will not give up until they have won it.”
A spokesperson for the RSA denied the leadership team had received a pay rise over the past two years. They said in a statement: “IWGB’s decision to push for industrial action at this moment, alongside supporting the sharing of inaccurate and misleading information in the media, seems to be motivated by disrupting our charitable work at a time of huge excitement and opportunity and using our good name to gain publicity for themselves rather than protecting the welfare of our people or the interests of our charity. This is deeply regrettable.”
