Tate staff to vote on strike action

Staff at the Tate museums are set to vote on whether to launch strikes in a dispute over pay.

Prospect and the Public and Commercial Services union said their members are facing a real-terms pay cut over the coming year.

A proposed deal amounted to a consolidated pay rise of between 1.7 per cent and 2.3 per cent for most members, said the unions.

The dispute involves staff at Tate Modern and Tate Britain in London, and sites in St Ives and Liverpool.

Prospect national secretary Alan Leighton said: “It is really disappointing that Tate did not listen to its staff and their unions.

“Instead Tate decided to impose this unacceptable pay deal and has refused to improve it despite the result of the consultative ballots.

“Tate staff are dedicated to their jobs, but low pay and long hours are causing real hardship for staff as well as undermining Tate’s mission to reflect the diverse community they seek to serve.

“It is not too late for Tate to reconsider their position, reopen talks on pay, and avert industrial action.”