A STRIKE could close one of the country's most popular attractions on Boxing Day.
The National Museum of Scotland said it had been informed by the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) that it is planning strike action.
The museum will, however, be open as normal on the Saturday, December 27.
An official announcement by the union, which has been in a long running dispute over weekend allowances, is expected on Monday.
A spokeswoman for the NMS said: "Due to anticipated strike action next week by the Public and Commercial Services Union, the National Museum of Scotland may be closed on Boxing Day.
"These circumstances are entirely outside of our control and we apologise for the inconvenience caused to our visitors. The museum will open as normal on Saturday 27 December 2014."
The Boxing Day opening times of the National Museum are supposed to be between midday and 5pm.
The NMS said it will not know until Boxing Day how many staff will decide to take strike action and therefore whether it can open the museum.
In January 2011, National Museums Scotland introduced revised contracts for new staff who are employed to work weekends; these new contracts do not include weekend working allowances.
Only around half of its staff who work weekends now receive a premium payment.
A spokeswoman added: "Like many other public sector organisations, National Museums Scotland has had to make a wide range of changes in order to manage the reduced budgets which have been a result of the financial crisis.
"These changes have included reducing staff numbers, reducing a range of budgets, constraining some services and introducing a change to some terms and conditions for staff newly appointed to ensure that we could continue to operate within the funding available."
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