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National Gallery strike ended as deal agreed, union says | National Gallery strike ended as deal agreed, union says |
(35 minutes later) | |
A row over the privatisation of some visitor services at London's National Gallery has been resolved, the Public and Commercial Services union has said. | A row over the privatisation of some visitor services at London's National Gallery has been resolved, the Public and Commercial Services union has said. |
Union members had been on strike for more than 100 days in protest against plans to switch visitor services to a private company. | Union members had been on strike for more than 100 days in protest against plans to switch visitor services to a private company. |
PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka said he still opposed privatisation, but had been unable to prevent it. | |
He said the union would now work with the gallery for a "smooth transition". | |
The union said it had reached an agreement with the gallery and it new contractor, Securitas, over staff terms. | |
The agreement will also ensure the return to work of a senior union representative, the union added. | |
"We thank the new director Gabriele Finaldi and the company for their commitment to genuine negotiations," it said in a statement. | |
Staff will return to work at 09:00 BST on Monday, the union added. | |
"We still do not believe privatisation was necessary but we will work with the new company and the gallery to ensure a smooth transition and, importantly, to ensure standards are maintained at this world-renowned institution," Mr Serwotka said. | "We still do not believe privatisation was necessary but we will work with the new company and the gallery to ensure a smooth transition and, importantly, to ensure standards are maintained at this world-renowned institution," Mr Serwotka said. |
The dispute followed an announcement by the National Gallery to appoint Securitas as its partner to manage some visitor-facing and security staff services - a contract worth £40m over five years. |
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