The Leading News & Information Service For The Facilities, Workplace & Built Environment Community

Winter of Discontent - Even National Gallery Faces Strikers

30 January 2015 | Updated 01 January 1970
 

The threat of the temporary closure of the National Gallery, London next Tuesday for five days, has come from what appears to be a critical deterioration in relations between the management and the 250 workforce.

Workers voted nine to one in favour of taking action following the intention of management to hand all visitor services to a private company as well as to bring pressure for it to pay the Living Wage. The Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) stated that ‘the private security firm, CIS, has already taken over the whole of the Sainsbury wing – which houses masterpieces by Raphael and Botticelli and – for the rest of this year without any competitive tender or consultation’.

"This reckless sell-off plan risks damaging the worldwide reputation of what is one of the UK's greatest cultural assets, and we are determined to stop it," warned Mark Serwotka, General Secretary, PCS. “Senior managers have also reneged on a promise to introduce the London living wage, meaning the institution is the only major museum or gallery in the capital that does not pay it.”

However, the National Gallery management have stated that changes have to be made to keep the institution’s place as an attraction. “If the National Gallery is to continue to thrive as a public entity and remain free to the 6 million visitors we see each year, change is essentia,” argued Nicholas Penny, Director, National Gallery. “There is no option that allows everything to stay the same when public funding has been reduced and is likely to be reduced further in the future. The National Gallery is determined to ensure that as many people as possible continue to enjoy their visit during the strike and will keep as many rooms open as possible.”

The strike, planned from Tuesday 3 to Saturday 7 February, may be averted if current talks with the conciliation service, ACAS, can bring about an agreement. The 6 million visitors that come to the National Gallery, ranks it just behind the British Museum in terms of visitor attractions in the UK.

Pictured: The National Gallery in London is set to have a five-day strike starting Tuesday, 3 February over plans to privatise its visitor services and ‘failure’ to pay the Living Wage.

Article written by Mike Gannon | Published 30 January 2015

Share


Related Articles

Mercury Rising, Straw Dogs, Hot Fuzz, Top Guns, The Crown & Vikings

We've got an FM Digest so good you'd almost want to make a movie out of it. Mercury have taken the Almac contract; Elior are eliminating plastic straws; Tenon are...

 Read Full Article
Skanska Wins Contract for 20 Ropemaker Street

Skanska has won a £240 million contract to construct 20 Ropemaker Street in Central London for Great Elm Assets Limited, in association with Old Park Lane...

 Read Full Article
X Marks The Spot Of The Tallest Tower In Town

The City of London Corporation has approved 1 Undershaft - AKA The Trellis - which will be the second tallest building in the Capital after The Shard and thus the second...

 Read Full Article
Airline Company Guilty For Unsafe Operation of Passenger Lift

Flybe, the airline company, was sentenced on 4 February 2020 for the unsafe operation of a passenger lift. Meanwhile, a number of other firms have found themselves...

 Read Full Article
A Top Ten Guide To Making Your Venue More Accessible

Eight venues have received awards from the disabled access charity Euan’s Guide for their work welcoming disabled visitors – and this prompted ThisWeekinFM to...

 Read Full Article
Tackling The People Challenge Through Technology

Report - CBRE and ThisWeekinFM recently lead a delegation of experts to provide a briefing on technology in workplace and real estate strategy. The breakfast briefing...

 Read Full Article
Net Zero Rush-Through Criticised By Lords, Forum Claims

The Global Warming Policy Forum has claimed the House of Lords has rebuked the Government for rushing through a commitment to a Net Zero economy. The Forum refutes the...

 Read Full Article
Holland Match - It's All Gone Gooee Over There

ProptTech history has been made with global M&E firm Croonwolter&dros agreeing to connect the 5,000 commercial buildings it runs in the Netherlands  to the...

 Read Full Article
'IRA' Claim Parcel Bomb Responsibility In Correctly Coded Call

A claim has allegedly been made on behalf of the ‘IRA’ for the parcel bombs that were delivered to premises in the UK - using a recognised codeword. A call...

 Read Full Article
Emcor UK Takes Insurance On TFM Contract

Emcor UK, has been awarded a contract with multinational insurance company RSA Insurance Group which is being described as a total facilities management contract. It will...

 Read Full Article