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Imperial War Museum staff fight for their jobs

Ministers announce withdrawal of £4 million funding

Museum staff are fighting to protect their jobs from cuts less than two months after a £40 million refurbishment of their workplace.

Workers at the Imperial War Museum (IWM) in London were hit with the news this week that the government is to withdraw its funding.

The withdrawal of the £4 million stipend could mean the closure of the museum's library and education services, as well as the sack for many of its staff.

Scientists' union Prospect member Andy Bye said: "Closing IWM's library is not a fitting way to mark the centenary of the outbreak of the First World War."

"IWM aspires to be a highly respected authority on its subject matter, but this will be impossible without a library."

The cuts come after one of the museum's most popular years, with almost 450,000 people visiting in 2013-14.

Union members have now launched a petition calling for government to keep the funds and honour the promises made during the WWI centenary reopening of the museum.

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