Museum unions decide to talk instead of striking

An ultimatum given to management at the Auckland War Memorial Museum has passed without an offer - but unions have put off a threatened strike.

The Public Service Association said management had not met its demands but members at the museum agreed yesterday to avoid industrial action and return to the bargaining table.

Stalled negotiations for a collective agreement led to unanimous agreement among union members to give management until Labour weekend to make a satisfactory offer.

Even though workers said they would consider striking during the museum's 80th birthday celebration this weekend, management responded on Friday not with an offer but a letter seeking clarification.

The museum's adviser on human resource issues, Peter Elder, said management had sent a letter to workers saying it would not make offers before a meeting already arranged for November 6.

The PSA and the Amalgamated Workers Union are working on the negotiations.