PCS: National Gallery staff to walkout over pay

Friday, 12 February 2010 12:00 AM

The National Gallery could be closed on Tuesday (16 Feb) lunchtime next week with up to 100 warders and security staff set to walk out for two hours between 12 noon and 2pm in a row over low pay.

The two hour strike is the first in a series of walkouts planned by members of the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) who are angry over the imposition of a pay award which will leave most warders earning as little as £7 per hour.

82% of those who took part in a recent strike ballot are backing Tuesday's walkout, which followed gallery boss's imposition of a pay award just days before Christmas.

The award means that staff who protect artworks by Canaletto, Monet, Turner and Van Gough, will earn a basic salary which is 60 pence less than Boris Johnson's recommended London living wage of £7.60 per hour. With the majority of warders on less than £15,000 a year, most have to rely on overtime and weekend working to top up their basic pay.

Mark Serwotka, PCS general secretary, will address those taking part in Tuesday's walkout in Trafalgar Square on the 16 February at 12 noon.

Commenting ahead of the walkout, Mark Serwotka, said: "Staff who protect important artworks and assist the public are sick and tired of working 50 to 60 hour weeks and having to take second jobs to earn a living wage. The refusal by management to re-open pay talks and its imposition of the pay award, just days before Christmas, has left staff feeling angry and betrayed. The continual failure by management to recognise that warders deserve a London living wage means that staff barely have enough for housing costs, bills and food. National Gallery management need to re-open talks and pay staff a decent living wage."

ENDS

Notes to editors:

For further information, interviews and comment please contact Alex Flynn PCS national press officer on 020 7801 2747 or 07833 978216.

PCS, the Public and Commercial Services Union is the union representing civil and public servants in central government. It has more than 300,000 members in over 200 departments and agencies. It also represents workers in parts of government transferred to the private sector. PCS is the UK's sixth largest union and is affiliated to the TUC. The general secretary is Mark Serwotka and the president is Janice Godrich.

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