Tate Museum Staff strike for Higher Wages

The dispute centres on the Tate's failure to offer an above-inflation pay rise for a second consecutive year – amounting to a real-terms pay cut. In an astounding result for PCS, a recent ballot returned a turnout of 87.7%, with an overwhelming 98% voting in favour of strike action.

While pickets will only be taking place at three sites, the action involves members at Tate Britain, Tate Liverpool, Tate Modern, Tate St Ives, and Tate Stores. The first day of strike action is set to coincide with the autumn budget in the hope of drawing attention to how a reduction in grant-in-aid funding has negatively impacted cultural institutions across the country.

The action is expected to cause disruption for visitors to Tate Modern and the new Turner and Constable exhibition at Tate Britain, which opens on Thursday (27), as well as delaying the installation of an exhibition at Tate St Ives. The Tate has also announced that its two exhibitions at Tate Liverpool + RIBA North will be temporarily closed from 26 November to 2 December inclusive due to the action.

Tate’s current offer of just 3% leaves employees facing a real-terms pay cut at a time when the cost-of-living is sharply increasing. In a survey conducted by Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS), for example, over 70% of respondents indicated their current salary was not sufficient to meet basic living costs including groceries, bills, and transportation costs.

PCS members shared heartbreaking testimonies of experiencing in-work poverty. One member recounted: “I love my work and feel it’s so important but it’s hard to be motivated and be happy doing a job that doesn’t cover your costs and I’m struggling to see a future in the arts where I feel secure,” said one member.

While another stated: “I can’t afford the basics and have to cut down on food, social activities and health activities. My mental health is suffering due to anxiety as I’ve been living in my overdraft since last year.”