On a high turnout of 72.8%, nearly 77% voted to strike while almost 90% backed some form of industrial action. The union is now planning a one-day strike on 11 March followed by a series of days where members will not work beyond their contracted hours.

The ballot result sends a clear message to English Heritage (EH) that staff will not accept what is one of the worst pay offers of 2001 across the central government sector. It is, says Prospect, the latest in a series of disappointing pay awards which have seen EH staff pay lag approximately 10% behind that of mainstream civil service employers in the last five years.

Members are also angered that following their rejection of the offer, EH management refused to go to arbitration and imposed an award of 3.5% claiming the organisation’s financial position prohibited any further increases. But a financial review of the organisation reveals that EH intends to use £0.5 million of the payroll budget on advertising.

Says Steve Jary, Prospect negotiating officer: "Members cannot understand why, following one of the lowest pay offers in government service, money is being taken out of the payroll budget to spend on advertising.

"It seems, once again, that EH management have made choices which ignore the need to resolve pay and equity anomalies within the system, in favour of choices which leave staff feeling overlooked and let down."

The one-day strike will affect prominent tourist attractions such as Stonehenge and Dover Castle where members working as curators, conservators and front-of-house staff will stop work. Action taken by members employed as building inspectors, architects, archaeologists and surveyors, among others, will also delay planning applications and requests for listed building consent.

Note: The Public and Commercial Services union is also balloting members in EH on whether to strike or take action short of a strike.