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National Gallery faces strike action over plan to contract out services National Gallery faces strike action over plan to contract out services
(about 9 hours later)
One of the UK's leading tourist attractions faces becoming embroiled in strike action after workers at the National Gallery were informed on Thursday of plans to bring in a private company to manage services, including those covering visitors, ticketing, security and information. The National Gallery faces possible strike action after workers were told on Thursday of plans to bring in a private company to manage services including ticketing, security and information.
Citing factors such as cuts in government funding, the National Gallery said it was seeking a partner to manage the provision of a range of services, which at the moment provide employment for about 400 people. Citing factors such as cuts in government funding, the gallery said it was seeking a partner to manage the provision of a range of services, which at the moment provide about 400 jobs.
The union representing the staff warned almost immediately that it would "throw everything" at opposing the move, which it described as privatisation. The union representing the staff warned immediately that it would "throw everything" at opposing the move, which it described as privatisation.
While, this year, the Public and Commercial Services union (PCS) was unable to oppose a similar recent move towards privatisation of visitor services at the Imperial War Museum, the union believes it is much stronger at the National Gallery. The Public and Commercial Services union (PCS) was unable to oppose a similar recent move towards privatisation of visitor services at the Imperial War Museum, but the union believes it is much stronger at the National Gallery.
Managers at the National Gallery, which draws six million visitors a year, said in a statement they had been attempting for some time to reconcile a number of ambitions. The gallery, which draws six million visitors a year, said it needed more flexibility at a time when income was decreasing.
The statement said: "We want to ensure that all our staff are paid the London living wage as a minimum, and ensure that benefits are fairly distributed. We also need to obtain more flexibility to meet the changing expectations of our visitors in an environment where our income is decreasing." As government funding has fallen the gallery said it had to increase revenue from other areas, such as events, retail and commercial activities.
In common with many other publicly funded institutions, the National Gallery says that funding from government is falling. It said it had to increase funding from other areas, such as events, retail and commercial activities. Helping raise money also was the opening of the museum to individuals and groups wanting to make use of the facilities outside normal opening hours. It also hopes to raise funds by opening for individuals and groups wanting to make use of the facilities outside normal opening hours.
"In order to do this we need to be able to guarantee the provision of essential security and services. It is for these reasons that the National Gallery is seeking a partner to manage the provision of some of its visitor-facing services. This is an approach that has been adopted by many other UK galleries and museums.""In order to do this we need to be able to guarantee the provision of essential security and services. It is for these reasons that the National Gallery is seeking a partner to manage the provision of some of its visitor-facing services. This is an approach that has been adopted by many other UK galleries and museums."
The gallery added that the terms, conditions and interests of any staff who transfered to the new supplier would be protected and that there would be no redundancies. The gallery said the terms, conditions and interests of any staff who transferred to the new supplier would be protected and there would be no redundancies.
Mark Serwotka, general secretary of the PCS, said: "This is a disgraceful and cynical move that risks undoing the long history of professional and trusted work by staff at this world-famous gallery, and we will be mounting a vigorous and visible campaign against it.Mark Serwotka, general secretary of the PCS, said: "This is a disgraceful and cynical move that risks undoing the long history of professional and trusted work by staff at this world-famous gallery, and we will be mounting a vigorous and visible campaign against it.
"Instead of investing in arts and culture, ministers are imposing massive spending cuts on our museums and galleries and insisting on more privatisation.""Instead of investing in arts and culture, ministers are imposing massive spending cuts on our museums and galleries and insisting on more privatisation."
The union, which says that it will vigorously oppose the moves, claims that the early experience of privatisation of visitor services elsewhere was that experienced staff left and morale plummeted.The union, which says that it will vigorously oppose the moves, claims that the early experience of privatisation of visitor services elsewhere was that experienced staff left and morale plummeted.
The PCS also has concerns about the level of training and knowledge among recruits brought in as replacements by private contractors, and suggests that what follows is increased use of zero-hours contracts and changes in pay and working conditions.The PCS also has concerns about the level of training and knowledge among recruits brought in as replacements by private contractors, and suggests that what follows is increased use of zero-hours contracts and changes in pay and working conditions.
The National Gallery said that the next stage of the process would involve setting out specifications, which would be completed this year. It would take several months before a final decision was made and a supplier chosen.The National Gallery said that the next stage of the process would involve setting out specifications, which would be completed this year. It would take several months before a final decision was made and a supplier chosen.