The National Archives (TNA) has warned researchers to expect reduced services on 28 April after staff voted to strike.
In a statement on its website, TNA, which is the official archive body for England and Wales, said: “We will remain open to visitors on this day but expect some of our services to be affected, as follows:
- We will provide a document reading room service on the first floor, limited to pre-booked advance orders only. You will not be able to order documents on the day
- The map and large document reading room will be closed and there will be no access to library books or finding aids in this area. Documents usually viewed in the map and large document reading room will instead be produced to the first floor reading room
- Our walk-in service for ordering documents on the day will be suspended
- Our Start Here enquiry desk will open between 09:30 and 11:00 only, while assistance with in-depth research enquiries will only be available from 11:00
- New readers’ tickets will be issued throughout the day as required
- Some online services such as Live Chat will be reduced, and there will be no information line service."
The Public and Commercial Services Union, of which some TNA staff are members, has called for its members across the civil service and public sector to go on strike on 28 April in a long-running row over pay, pensions and job security.
Services at TNA were previously reduced in the same way when workers took part in strikes on 1 February and 15 March.
Rosemary Collins is the features editor of Who Do You Think You Are? Magazine
