Tate employees vote to strike wages after union members reject ‘inadequate’ offer | Tate Britain

Tate staff have voted overwhelmingly in favor of a wage strike, which could seriously disrupt major performances at the cultural institution.

More than 150 workers will strike from 26 November to 2 December following a poll held by the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union, in which 98% of members voted in favor of strike action with a turnout of over 87%.

Staff at all four galleries – Tate Britain, Tate Modern, Tate Liverpool and Tate St Ives – have been offered a pay rise of between 2% and 3%, but PCS said it considered it “inappropriate” in a period of “high costs of living and concerns about endemic low pay”.

PCS is one of three unions representing employees at showrooms. The Guardian understands the other two have accepted a pay deal, but PCS members have a significant presence across the organisation.

The strike could cause operational issues in the run-up to Christmas, with the new Turner & Constable: Rivals & Originals exhibition opening on November 27 at Tate Britain likely to be affected.

PCS General Secretary Fran Heathcote said: “With many Tate directors receiving six-figure pay packages and five-figure bonuses, while staff are condemned to poverty on the job, it is no wonder we saw such an overwhelming vote in favor of strike action.”

The union leader described the offer as “insulting” and is demanding a higher-than-inflation wage rise, and the restoration of employee benefits – including a staff canteen and subsidized 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 while continuing to achieve a balanced budget. This includes a 3% salary increase for most roles – including all staff in the bottom three pay bands – while directors receive a 0% increase to help balance overall costs. Only by creating and maintaining a sustainable financial model can we continue to invest in our people for the long term.”

If no agreement is reached, The Guardian understands the measure could continue into the new year with shows potentially affected, including Tracey Emin’s show at Tate Modern, which opens in February.

The Tate has had a difficult 12 months during which it celebrated the 25th anniversary of the opening of the Tate Modern. The ballot result also follows Tate’s previous restructuring in which 40 roles were cut to address the funding shortfall left by the pandemic. There have also been accusations that the museum collection is “struggling with its identity.”

The Tate’s director, Maria Balshaw, launched a strong defense of the organisation, writing for The Guardian that visitor numbers to Tate Britain continue to rise year on year, and that “the Tate Modern is the most visited modern art museum in the world”.

Other cultural institutions are also facing difficulties. More than half of the Royal Shakespeare Company’s staff are being encouraged to apply for voluntary redundancies, as the company seeks to plug a shortfall believed to be between £5 million and £6 million.

British Library staff, represented by PCS, recently went on strike over a dispute over pay and conditions.