News from the FDA

Theunion of choice for senior managers and professionals in public service

15 June 2002

[For Immediate Use]

Fairfunding for museums and galleries

The FDA, the union for senior managers in thepublic sector, today gave its full support to the aims of British Museum staffwho are taking industrial action on Monday in protest at job and service cuts.The museum will be closed to visitors for 24 hours on 17 June after members ofthe PCS and Prospect unions voted in favour of industrial action. Although FDAmembers are not on strike, the union has been fully engaged in the campaign foradditional funding for the British Museum, which is facing a multi-millionpound deficit.

FDA general secretary Jonathan Baume saidinadequate government funding was pushing the British Museum, and other museumsand galleries across the country, up against the wall in spite of the factthat they are doing more than ever to help the government fulfil its educationand access programme.

Eye-catching projectssuch as the Great Court have captured the publics imagination, but the museumhas not being given the resources to maintain the wider public access andeducation projects they have been encouraged to set up, he said.

FDA members are at thesharp end of implementing the cut backs and they are well aware of thedetrimental impact on scholarship, research and collections. The FDA, with theother unions, have been and will continue to press the Department of Culture,Media and Sport, for increased funding across the sector so that theseswingeing cuts in staff and service to the public can be avoided at the BritishMuseum and elsewhere in the future.

Ends

Notesfor Editors

1. TheFDA is the trade union and professional body representing the UKs 11,000senior civil and public servants. Our members include policy advisors, seniormanagers, tax inspectors, economists, statisticians, accountants, governmentlawyers, crown prosecutors and NHS managers

2. Forfurther information contact:

JonathanBaume (general secretary) on 020-7343-1111 or07976-951191 (mobile)

Simon Moore (chief press officer) on020-7343-1111 or 07967 484441 (mobile)