Staff at Tate have voted overwhelmingly to strike over pay, which could seriously disrupt major shows at the cultural institution.
More than 150 workers will go on strike from 26 November to 2 December after a ballot by the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS), in which 98% of members voted for action on a turnout of more than 87%.
Workers at all four galleries, Tate Britain, Tate Modern, Tate Liverpool and Tate St Ives have been offered a salary increase of between 2% and 3%, but PCS said it considered that “inadequate” in a period of “rising living costs and concerns about endemic low pay”.
PCS is one of three unions that represent staff at the galleries. The Guardian understands that the other two have accepted the pay deal, but PCS members have a significant presence across the organisation.
The strike could cause operational issues in the lead-up to Christmas with the new Turner & Constable: Rivals & Originals show that opens on 27 November at Tate Britain potentially being affected.
Fran Heathcote, the PCS general secretary, said: “With many Tate directors receiving six-figure pay packages and five-figure bonuses while staff are condemned to in-work poverty, it is no wonder we have seen such an overwhelming vote for strike action.”
The union leader called the offer “insulting” and is demanding an above-inflation pay rise, and the return of staff benefits – including a staff canteen and subsidised meals. There is also anger over Tate withdrawing access to the civil service pension scheme for new starters from 2021.
A Tate spokesperson said: “Tate has made careful savings this year in order to invest in staff pay and still achieve a balanced budget. This includes a 3% salary increase for most roles – including all employees on the lowest three pay bands – while directors are taking a 0% increase to help balance the overall costs. It is only by creating and maintaining a sustainable financial model that we can continue to invest in our staff in the long term.”
If an agreement is not reached, the Guardian understands that the action could linger into the new year with shows, including Tracey Emin’s show at Tate Modern, which opens in February, potentially being affected.
Tate has had a difficult 12 months during which it celebrated the 25th anniversary of Tate Modern opening. The ballot result also comes after earlier restructuring by Tate in which 40 roles were cut to address a funding deficit left over from the pandemic. There have also been accusations that the museum group is “struggling with its identity”.
Tate’s director, Maria Balshaw, launched a staunch defence of the organisation, writing to the Guardian that Tate Britain’s visitor numbers were continuing to rise year on year, and “Tate Modern is the most visited museum of modern art in the world”.
Other cultural institutions are also struggling. More than half of Royal Shakespeare Company staff being encouraged to apply for voluntary redundancy as it seeks to plug a shortfall believed to be between £5m and £6m.
British Library staff represented by PCS recently went on strike during a dispute over pay and conditions.
