Prospect members at MOLA drew up the petition after the employer imposed the pay award – even though 87% of members voting in a ballot rejected it.

MOLA members in working in Northampton voted to accept the significantly higher pay offer that they received.

Despite the outcome of the ballot, MOLA has rejected the union’s request for a return to the negotiating table.

Prospect’s arguments and concerns are:

• The eroding pay differential between London and Northampton staff caused by the higher increases being paid in Northampton.
• Fears that MOLA London pay rates for archaeologists will not adequately reward their skills and knowledge or be enough for staff to afford to live in the capital.
• The pay offer did not fully address the problem of the small pay differential between archaeologists and senior archaeologists. In particular, there is little incentive for assistant supervisors to become senior archaeologists when the increase in pay is so small compared to the increase in responsibility.
• MOLA’s subsistence payment of £7.50 a night for staff using self-catered accommodation while working away from home is half the amount paid by many other companies.

Prospect negotiator Andy Bye said: “London members deserve the same 5.47% median increase that is being paid to MOLA’s staff in Northampton.”

The union plans to submit the petition to the directors and trustees on 20 July.

MOLA’s reps have agreed that if they do not receive a positive response to the petition, and if members agree, they will carry out an indicative ballot of London members on whether they should take industrial action to secure an improved pay offer.