Brighton & Hove Museums rejects GMB ‘bankruptcy’ claims and confirms new talks

Brighton & Hove Museums has expressed deep disappointment over a series of inaccurate and misleading claims issued by the GMB Union regarding upcoming industrial action at the Royal Pavilion and associated heritage sites.

Leadership at the independent charitable trust has categorically corrected Union assertions regarding the charity’s financial standing and a refusal to negotiate, stating that the public narrative put forward by the Union is factually incorrect.

The Trust firmly rejected any suggestion of potential bankruptcy, correcting the claim as entirely false. Far from being financially unstable, the independent trust model was specifically chosen by Brighton & Hove City Council to provide long-term resilience.

The model allows the charity to access vital independent revenue streams, such as Gift Aid, tax relief and charitable donations that are completely unavailable to local authorities, shielding Brighton’s heritage from severe local council budget cuts.

Contrary to Union claims that management walked away from talks, the Trust has confirmed that a formal meeting has been organised with the GMB for this coming Tuesday. The charity remains entirely committed to open, realistic dialogue and continues to welcome engagement with all representative union bodies to find a mutually agreeable resolution to the ongoing dispute.

Museum leadership also sought to reassure the public and staff by correcting misinformation surrounding current working contracts. The Trust confirmed there are absolutely zero reductions to basic salaries. Furthermore, the charity continues to guarantee robust contractual benefits that match or outclass standard sector rates, including:

• Pension protection: Current staff retain full, uninterrupted access to the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) with an employer contribution of 17.8%, ensuring their secure, defined-benefit retirement income is completely protected.
• Premium rates: Staff continue to receive time and a half for working hours at weekends and time and a third after hours.
• Bank Holiday safeguards: Staff working Bank Holidays receive either triple time, or double time plus a day off in lieu.
• Core welfare protections: A comprehensive sick pay offer of 20 weeks full pay and 20 weeks half pay with maternity and paternity pay structures remaining fully intact.

The main operational change from the amendments is a necessary transition away from national local government (NJC) pay awards to an independent, local negotiation model. This shift is a direct, unavoidable consequence of the conclusion of Brighton & Hove City Council’s five-year funding deal in March 2026.

Far from abandoning the sites, the Council remains clear that the independent trust model is the only viable method to shield these historic venues.

The Trust also dismissed the Union’s rhetoric regarding financial secrecy, pointing out that as a registered charity, its financial accounts are fully transparent, updated quarterly with staff, and legally lodged on the public Charity Commission register every year.

The Trust’s Board of Trustees is legally required to approve any formal financial proposals and is already scheduled to review and agree on the staff pay award for 2026-27 at their next planned meeting in July.

Hedley Swain, CEO of Brighton & Hove Museums, said:

“For months, we have acted with the utmost patience and respect as we navigate the harsh economic realities facing the cultural sector. Making minor adjustments to our terms is not a choice; it is an absolute necessity if we are to protect the financial resilience of this charity, safeguard five significant historic buildings, and care for over one million items in our collections.

“It is deeply disappointing that, rather than engaging in constructive dialogue to help us protect these sites, GMB officials are choosing to fabricate a crisis for a media headline. Their spurious actions are disrespectful towards our hardworking charitable trust staff, who pay the union to negotiate and deserve far better representation.

“Furthermore, it is disingenuous and highly divisive for Union officials to publicly claim that one specific group of our workforce is ‘more important’ than another. We are an organisation filled with dedicated, highly skilled professionals across every single department, from front of house to finance, world-class conservation, and education. Every single member of our team is valued equally, and it is insulting to the rest of our staff for the GMB to diminish their contributions.

“No one wins during a strike, and our door remains firmly open for genuine, realistic negotiation this coming Tuesday. In the meantime, I want to personally thank the vast majority of our team who are continuing to work incredibly hard to support one another and welcome our visitors through our doors.”

Brighton & Hove Museums will issue full details on Monday regarding site opening times and visitor arrangements for the planned strike days. Visitors are advised to check the Trust’s website or social media channels.