SOME 250 people gathered on the steps of Wakefield Cathedral on Saturday to show their support for the striking workers at the National Coal Mining Museum for England at nearby Overton.

Workers at the museum, which features underground tours at the old Caphouse colliery site, have been on strike for a total of 108 days in a dispute over a pay deal that was agreed and then reneged on by the museum.

Among the speakers at the rally was Wakefield Council leader Denise Jefferies, who recently stood down as a patron from the museum because of its intransigence towards its workforce and meaningfully trying to resolving the dispute.

The 40 Unison members have now voted to extend the strike until the summer of 2026 following members rejecting a recent pay offer.

The museum has recently employed contractors to carry out repairs to the playground: work that striking staff would normally carry out for no extra money while on shift.

The striking union members say that putting the money into resolving the dispute would be a far better use of public cash than hiring external companies to do work that staff would ordinarily be happy to take on.

Ahead of the rally, Unison regional organiser Rianne Hooley said: “This strike is about fair pay for workers at the museum. But it’s also about protecting the history of coal mining, which is a central part of this country’s heritage and particularly in West Yorkshire.

“Chief executive Lynn Dunning and the board of trustees are responsible for a national museum dedicated to coal mining: treating former miners with such disrespect is the total opposite of what the museum is all about.”

Phil Marshall, Trustee at the National Coal Mining Museum, said: “Despite industrial action the majority of our staff continue to work as normal, supported by our dedicated volunteers. We believe this majority were satisfied with the original 5% pay offer.

The Charity fully supports the right to lawfully picket and protest. However, we are disappointed that the several pay offers made by the Museum over the past three months have been rejected.

Our latest proposal included a £1 per hour increase for Museum Guides with specialist skills, such as electricians and fitters, alongside a 5% uplift for the wider team. We also committed to introducing Death in Service benefits and conducting a full review of the staffing structure over the next 12 months. The offer of a £1 per hour, which equates to almost 8%, corresponds with the pay offer the union demanded and is considerably higher than the 3.2% increases locally and nationally in 25/26.

Like many charities, we are facing significant financial pressures. Any pay agreement must safeguard the Museum’s future, ensuring we can continue to share the vital story of coal mining for generations to come. The Museum, which is free to enter, is committed to recognising expertise, rewarding the valuable contributions of all team members, and making decisions guided by fairness and affordability. The Charity’s Chief Executive and leadership team have the full support of the Board of Trustees in seeking a fair and sustainable resolution and it is our hope to bring an end to the current industrial action as soon as possible.”