Workers in Liverpool have been on strike since Wednesday
Tate Liverpool, which is undergoing renovations(Image: Liverpool Echo)
Striking Tate workers have announced they will not be picketing outside galleries on Sunday November 30. Pickets have been seen at Tate Liverpool, as well as the Tate Britain and Tate Modern galleries in London this week, as more than 150 Public and Commercial Services union (PCS) trade union took part in strike action over pay and conditions.
In a statement on social media, representatives of the workforce said that they they will be taking a day’s rest before returning to the picket line on Monday December 1.
Tate Liverpool, which is closed for renovation works and operating out of the RIBA building, has been forced to shut as a result of the strike action with pickets held outside the Riba Building on Thursday and Friday (November 27 and 28)
Further pickets are planned for December 1 at Tate Britain and December 2 at Tate Modern.
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The strike action is due to last a week in total having started on Wednesday November 26 and being set to last until December 2.
The PCS has said the dispute centres on the Tate’s failure to offer an above-inflation pay rise for a second consecutive year which the union says amounts to a real-terms pay cut.
A recent ballot returned a turnout of 87.7%, with an 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.
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Following the outcome of the ballot, talks have been held between PCS and Tate Galleries with the union saying that future meetings are due to follow, with the hope that a resolution can be reached to stave off further strike action in 2026.
In a recent PCS survey of members working at Tate Galleries, 75.6% of participants said they were “very dissatisfied” with the 2% pay award that was initially offered.
The action is expected to cause disruption for visitors to Tate Modern and the new Turner and Constable exhibition at Tate Britain as well as delaying the installation of an exhibition at Tate St Ives.
PCS general secretary Fran Heathcote said: “With many Tate directors receiving six-figure pay packages and five-figure bonuses while staff are condemned to in-work poverty, it is no wonder we have seen such an overwhelming vote for strike action.
“Our members have rightly rejected another insulting pay offer from senior Tate management, and now stand ready to take strike action that will severely impact gallery operations.”