Tate staff vote to strike later this month

This article was first published by Museums + Heritage Advisor.

Union members who work at the Tate Galleries are set to stage a week of strike action in a dispute over pay.

Public and Commercial Services union (PCS) members who work at Tate Galleries have voted to walk out by a margin of 98% on a turnout of 87.72%.

Over 150 members are set to strike from 26 November to 2 December, beginning a day before the opening of the Turner and Constable exhibition at Tate Britain.

The union said workers are demanding an above-inflation pay award and the return of staff benefits that have been cut, including a staff canteen and subsidised meals.

The current offer of between 2% and 3% has been rejected by PCS members in Tate Britain, Tate Modern, Tate Liverpool, and Tate St Ives.

The union said redundancies and increased workloads following a recent restructure – the second in five years – have “reduced staff morale”.