Edinburgh museums to close as staff begin strikes

THE National Museum of Scotland and National War Museum will be closed until lunchtime tomorrow as part of a three-day strike over pay and pensions.

Picture: Phil Wilkinsin

Members of the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union began the series of strikes yesterday with staff from the justice sector.

They will be joined today by staff from the two museums which has led to the early

closures.

A museum spokesman apologised for any inconvenience caused to visitors and said all of its museums would be open as normal from Thursday.

He said: “Due to anticipated industrial action this week, the National Museum of Scotland and the National War Museum will be closing at 1pm today, and will not re-open until 1.30pm on Wednesday.

“The Tower Restaurant will remain open and access will be via the Tower entrance of the National Museum of Scotland as usual. The National Museum of Flight and the National Museum of Rural Life remain open.”

The PCS began a campaign of industrial action on March 20, the day Chancellor George Osborne announced the

Budget.