National Gallery workers begin indefinite strike over privatisation row

Jeremy Corbyn hits out at 'intransigent' gallery bosses
Protest: Striking workers at a rally against privatisation in May
PA
Ramzy Alwakeel11 August 2015

Two-thirds of the National Gallery could be shut for the foreseeable future as workers began a long-term strike over privatisation plans.

Picket lines were set up in Trafalgar Square by staff who say services at the gallery - including security - are being unnecessarily tendered out to private firms.

A previous rally in the row drew support from the likes of director Ken Loach, and artists Grayson Perry and Mark Wallinger have also publicly sided with the workers.

The latest round of action coincides with new gallery director Gabriele Finaldi's first week at the helm. Mr Finaldi was appointed in March to take over from Nicholas Penny.

Gallery bosses say privatising some services is necessary to help them extend opening hours.

Labour leadership contender Jeremy Corby urged the incoming director to seek to resolve the dispute.

"National Gallery workers have been forced to take this action because of the intransigence of management," he said. "These low-paid workers are proud public servants and don't want their jobs sold off.

"The management of the National Gallery must call off plans to privatise the staff who look after our cultural assets."

PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka said: "We had asked the new director to step in to resolve this dispute before taking over but now his first week will be greeted by a continuous strike. We remain ready to negotiate.

"We do not believe this privatisation is in any way necessary and we fear for the reputation the gallery rightly enjoys around the world as one of our country's greatest cultural assets."

The gallery says no jobs will be lost.

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All four main exhibitions are open today but visitors will only be able to get in to a handful of the remaining rooms - about a third of the gallery in total, according to a spokeswoman.

The gallery said in a statement: "The PCS opposes the introduction of new working practices for some visitor facing and security staff that would enable us to operate more flexibly and deliver an enhanced service to our six million annual visitors. The National Gallery is a public asset and has a duty to ensure the collection and the gallery itself is accessible as much as possible, to as many people as possible."

It accused the PCS of "refusing to compromise" following a year of negotiations.

Anyone planning a visit is advised to go to the gallery website for the latest information on closures.

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