Urgent call for dignified treatment of V&A Cleaners

Support cleaners facing poverty wages at the world-renowned Victoria and Albert Museum. Help prevent strike action by sending the letter below to V&A management.

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To: Dr Tristram Hunt, Director of the Victoria and Albert Museum

To: The Directors of the Victoria and Albert Museum Victoria and Albert Museum Cromwell Road London SW7 2RL Dear Dr Tristram Hunt, director of the Victoria and Albert Museum, I am writing to express my deep concern regarding the appalling treatment of the cleaners at the V&A, who are being paid just £11.75 an hour—a poverty wage that falls well below the London Living Wage (LLW). These workers, many of whom are migrants from Latin America, are the backbone of the museum, ensuring that its galleries, spaces, and collections remain pristine for visitors. They show their dedication daily to the institution, yet they are treated as if they are the dirt they clean. The cleaners who are member of United Voices of the World are demanding: • A decent wage of £14.50 an hour—a modest and reasonable request given the cost of living in London. • Full sick pay from day one—no worker should have to choose between coming to work ill or going without pay. • An extra week of annual leave—a basic measure of respect and dignity for those who keep the museum running. The V&A has built a reputation as a relatively progressive institution, engaging with issues of decolonisation, diversity and inclusion. Yet, it is deeply contradictory for an institution committed to addressing colonial legacies to exploit a predominantly migrant workforce. How can the museum claim to be forward-thinking while failing to provide its cleaners with the basic rights and wages needed to live with dignity? The V&A must lead by example. The V&A must not allow their cleaners to be treated like second class citizens. I urge you to call on your contractors, Total Support Services (TSS), to pay your cleaners fairly. This is not an act of generosity—it is a moral obligation. I look forward to your response and, more importantly, to seeing meaningful action taken. Yours sincerely, [Your Name]

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