Museum of London consulting staff over proposed job losses

The Museum of London has started consulting staff over proposed job losses in response to the financial impact caused by the coronavirus crisis.

The museum said it wanted to ensure the future sustainability and efficiency of the organisation.

Its director, Sharon Ament, said: “It is with deep regret that the Museum of London today announced that it is entering a period of consultation with staff and our recognised trade union on proposed redundancies.

“The museum closed completely for five months and following our reopening, we have experienced low visitor numbers, averaging only 20 per cent of last year’s performance.

“Our self-generated income streams, which form an important source of funding for the museum, generating £3.5 million income each year, have been badly affected.”

The museum said it has already undertaken wide-ranging cost-saving actions to try to plug a budget gap since the pandemic began, including cancelling costly major programming, implementing a recruitment freeze, significantly cutting department budgets and voluntary reduced pay for directors.

Sharon Brown of the Prospect union, said: “The Museum of London has seen its income severely impacted by the pandemic which is sadly resulting in job losses and cuts to some salaries.

“The Museum of London is an important historical institution for our capital city but is not eligible for government cultural rescue funding.

“Sadly the museum’s funders have either been unable to, or chosen not to, come to the museum’s rescue as of yet.

“Prospect will be working with the Museum to mitigate the impact of these cuts as much as is possible and will help members affected in any way it can.”