MUSEUM bosses said they have presented staff with the best offer possible as Big Pit employees prepare to go on a three-day strike in an ongoing dispute over pay.

National Museum Wales spoke out after members of the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union agreed to take renewed strike action this weekend in opposition at plans to scrap premium payment for weekend working.

PCS said the payments make up as much as 15 per cent of the take-home pay of front-of-house staff.

The National Coal Museum in Blaenavon will be shut during the whole of the Bank Holiday weekend.

A National Museum Wales spokeswoman said yesterday: “We have presented PCS with an improved offer, which is currently being considered by the union. 

“It is the best we can offer within the financial resources available to us, which have been cut by over 20 per cent in recent years.

“We have no choice but to review premium payments that currently cost the organisation around £800,000 a year.”

National Museum Wales said the revised offer included an extra £300 for each employee, a basic pay increase of six rather than four per cent, a £7.85 living wage, and compensatory payments for those on the lowest grade for five years.

For more information on strike action at museums this weekend log on to museumwales.ac.uk