Threat of strike at museum

The crisis at the British Museum deepened today as it emerged that staff could strike over plans to axe 150 jobs.

Members of two museum workers' unions - Prospect and the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union - are being urged to support a campaign of industrial action against "drastic" costcutting measures.

About 15 per cent of the 1,100 staff face the sack as directors struggle with a £6.5 million black hole in the museum's accounts, the unions claim. Any strike would be likely to take place in mid-June.

PCS national officer Terry Adams said: "We believe strike action is necessary to highlight the dire need for the Government to provide financial assistance."

Representatives of the museum were unavailable for comment.