Staff at Tate galleries across the UK have begun a seven-day strike over pay and conditions, with some employees reportedly relying on food banks. The industrial action, organised by the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union, is set to run until 2 December and coincides with the opening of Tate Britain's Turner and Constable exhibition.
On the second day of the strike, picketers outside Tate Britain held signs criticising management, including one reading 'Director's bonus = my salary'. A notice at the main entrance warned visitors that some spaces may close at short notice. Staff cited low morale due to two restructures in five years, redundancies, and below-inflation pay rises.
Susete Almeida, chair of the PCS union at Tate Britain, said anger stemmed from two consecutive years of below-inflation pay offers while many staff struggle financially. 'They can no longer afford their rent, members are on universal credit and some are using food banks,' she said. A Tate spokesperson said Tate Modern, Tate Britain and Tate St Ives were open as normal, but Tate Liverpool, already closed for renovation, was forced to shut due to the strike.
The strike follows a ballot where 98% of PCS members voted for action on an 87% turnout. Workers were offered a 2% to 3% salary increase, which the union called 'insulting' and demanded an above-inflation rise plus the return of staff benefits, including a subsidised canteen. There is also anger over the withdrawal of access to the civil service pension scheme for new starters from 2021.
A PCS member working in the library and archive said: 'I think it’s absurd that a director’s bonus is equivalent to my yearly salary.' A sculpture conservationist added that low wages were driving people away, while a front-of-house employee noted that subsidised hot meals were the only hot meal of the day for some low-paid workers. PCS is one of three unions at the galleries; the other two have accepted the pay deal, but PCS has a significant presence.
The strike could cause disruption in the lead-up to Christmas, and if no agreement is reached, action may continue into the new year, potentially affecting exhibitions such as Tracey Emin's Tate Modern show opening in February.
