Workers on strike at the National Coal Mining Museum in Wakefield have rejected a new pay offer which said they would be investigated and disciplined when they return to work, UNISON has said.

More than 40 members of staff walked out in mid-August and have been on strike ever since in a dispute over pay.

Until this week, the union has said only one offer had been put to striking staff by the museum.

It says that for many workers, the package was ‘worse than one presented to staff that prompted the walkouts’.

placeholder image — Striking workers on the picket line.

UNISON said that the new offer contains a line that says ‘the museum will investigate staff and discipline them when they return to work’.

As a result, staff have voted overwhelmingly to reject it.

The union says the ‘farcical offer’ is the latest in a series of missteps by museum bosses.

Workers have put forward a counter-proposal in an effort to find a resolution and bring the dispute to a close.

UNISON Yorkshire and Humberside regional organiser Rianne Hooley said: “This farcical offer is the latest in a series of sorry missteps by managers that have only prolonged the dispute through their poor judgement and incompetence.

“Throughout this strike, museum bosses have behaved in a way which suggests they don’t value their skilled workers – the people who made the history this museum keeps alive.

“Putting forward a pay offer with a term which suggests staff will be disciplined if they accept is utterly ridiculous. Staff have understandably voted to reject it.

“They are desperate to be back at work, telling stories of coal mining and taking members of the public underground. In the absence of any sensible offer, staff have put forward a counter-proposal to try and bring this dispute to an end.

“They want to be paid fairly, they want to safeguard the future of the museum, and they want to be properly respected by their managers.”

In a statement, the National Coal Mining Museum said: “The charity is deeply saddened that the fourth and latest pay offer has been rejected, particularly as the museum offered exactly what the Union had proposed during the most recent round of negotiations.

"We became aware of this rejection through media enquiries only, which is both surprising and disappointing.

“The charity remains committed to supporting all staff and to restoring a positive and respectful workplace for everyone.

"There has been significant misinformation circulated throughout the industrial action, particularly in relation to finances and security.

"The charity has repeatedly requested that it be made clear this information is manifestly and demonstrably incorrect.

“The charity will, of course, review the counteroffer when it is shared and will consider it carefully with the hope of bringing the industrial action to an end as quickly as possible.”