Staff at a Liverpool art gallery may go on a strike due to the Tate’s failure to offer staff an above-inflation pay award.
The Public and Commercial Service Union members at the four Tate gallery sites across England, will be balloted for strike action from 14th October until 11th November.
Over 130 PCS members working at Tate locations, (including Tate Britain, Tate Modern, Tate Liverpool and Tate St Ives) who were offered only a 2% pay increase, have already indicated in a consultative ballot that they were prepared to take strike action overpay.
It has now been increased to 3% but rejected by PCS members as inadequate amid rising living costs and concerns about endemic low pay, but is still lower than the Civil Service Remit, which does not issue the low pay at the institution.
Hannah David, culture group president, said: “Tate staff have shown incredible dedication in keeping Tate’s doors open, welcoming visitors, and carrying for the nation’s art, at this internationally eminent gallery.
“Despite this, they have been subject to years of cuts, downgraded pensions, and below-inflation pay offers which have left works struggling day-to-day.”
She added: “This ballot is a necessary step in showing senior management that Tate workers will no longer tolerate being treated as dispensable.”
This is the second restructure resulting in redundancies at the Tate in four years, after the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic highlighted the increase of the cost-of-living crisis and the reduction in government grants to cultural institutions.
Fran Heathcote, PCS general secretary, said: “Senior management at Tate spend millions acquiring new artworks while allowing many of our members to fall into in-work poverty.
“Food prices, rent, energy bills, and transport costs are all surging, but they expect our members to live off crumbs.”
In 2021, Tate also withdrew the access to the Civil Service Pension Scheme for new starters, which is replaced by a plan that offers substantially weaker terms.
Feature image: Diana Quintal
