More than 150 unionized workers at Tate Britain are going on strike to protest against what the union says is an “inadequate” pay rise. The Public and Commercial Services Union announced that employees will go on strike from November 26 to December 2.
Approximately 98% of voting members supported the action and nearly 88% voted. In a recent survey by the union, more than 72% of Tate PCS members said their wages were not enough to meet basic living costs.
In March, the Tate cut 40 positions, or 7% of its staff, to cope with the lingering coronavirus deficit; this is the second round of layoffs since 2020, when the institution cut more than 300 positions at the height of the pandemic.
Tate Britain.
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Staff at Tate Britain, Tate Modern, Tate Liverpool and Tate St Ives will receive pay rises of 2% to 3%. The union pointed out that this was lower than the maximum 3.25% allowed under the government’s Civil Service Salary Remittance Guidelines, which also indicated the possibility of an additional 0.5% increase to address low wages and other issues.
PCS general secretary Fran Heathcote said: “With many Tate directors receiving six-figure salaries and five-figure bonuses, while staff are impoverished by their work, it is no wonder we have seen such an overwhelming vote for strike action. “Our members have rightly rejected yet another insulting pay offer from Tate senior management and are now preparing to take strike action which will severely impact the gallery’s operations.”
Tate director Maria Balshaw is paid £221,862 ($293,064), while managing directors Karin Hindsbo and Carmel Allen are paid £174,400 ($230,370) and £161,078 respectively, according to the Tate’s annual report for 2024-25. British Pound ($212,773).
The strike comes as Tate Britain is preparing for a major exhibition of British masters John Constable and JMW Turner, “Turner and Constable: Rivals and Originals,” which is scheduled to open on November 27 to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the two painters’ births.
A spokesman for the museum told Tate: “Tate has made careful savings this year in order to invest in staff wages while still achieving a balanced budget.” guardian. “This includes a 3% pay rise for most roles, including all staff in the lowest three pay bands, while directors receive a 0% pay rise 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.”
The museum is also exploring new ways to raise funds. Chairman Roland Rudd has floated the idea of selling the naming rights to Tate Modern’s Turbine Hall for at least 50 million pounds ($66 million) to fund the London institution’s new endowment, dubbed the Tate Future Fund, which aims to raise 150 million pounds ($198 million) by 2030.
