Strike action at Big Pit could keep doors slammed shut to families over the holidays, as workers continue a pay dispute with management.

All staff at the Blaenavon museum have been on strike since April 28 as unions and bosses dispute over weekend pay cuts leaving some £3,000 worse off per year.

Cuts to the ‘premium payment allowance’ mean some workers, including those on the lowest pay, could amount to a 15% slash in yearly earnings. Staff at other national museums are also on strike.

Staff at the National Museum Wales and Public Services and Commercial Union (PCS) have been engaged in an ongoing battle for the last two years. Ongoing strikes mean the doors could stay shut over the half-term and summer holidays.

Richard Phillips, a former miner, said the heated dispute has seen the loss of 5,000 visitors, with many coming from as far afield as the United States, and Australia.

Mr Phillips said, despite talks between parties, the impasse continues as management offers of compensation would leave him £30,000 worse-off over the remainder of his career, and reduce his pension.

Darren Williams, spokesman for the PCS union, said that full strike action was the last resort following a series of unacceptable overtures made by museum management.

“We appreciate that the museum’s budget has been cut, but we do not accept that the lowest-paid staff should be taking such a big hit, especially when the senior management team are not taking a comparable cut in their own salaries,” he said.

Mr Williams added that museum bosses made a ‘final’ compensation offer to workers over Christmas, which was deemed unacceptable by union bosses. Further talks were refused, he said, and management pulled the plug on their offer.

The PCS union said its hopes now rest with the new Welsh Government, which pledged to intervene prior to the recent Assembly elections taking place.

A National Museum spokeswoman said discussions were ongoing between parties, and welcomed the open dialogue between management and the workforce.

Catrin Thomas, said, “We hope to bring this dispute to a conclusion as soon as possible. Representatives from the Museum have met with representatives from PCS in recent weeks.

“These meetings were to explore the potential for a resolution.

“While these discussions continue, we are progressing with individual consultation as planned, which provides all affected staff with an opportunity to have their say on the cessation of Premium Payments.

“Nobody will lose their jobs through this process.”