Staff at Tate have voted to initiate a strike over pay, which may disrupt key exhibitions at the institution. Over 150 employees plan to strike from November 26 to December 2, following a ballot conducted by the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS). In this ballot, 98% of participants supported strike action, with a turnout exceeding 87%.
Workers across all four Tate galleries—Tate Britain, Tate Modern, Tate Liverpool, and Tate St Ives—have been offered a pay raise of between 2% and 3%. The PCS has deemed this offer inadequate amidst rising living costs and issues related to low pay. While the PCS is one of three unions representing Tate staff, it is believed to be the largest, and the other two unions have accepted the pay proposal.
The planned strike could impact operations leading up to Christmas, particularly affecting the exhibition “Turner & Constable: Rivals & Originals,” which opens on November 27 at Tate Britain. Fran Heathcote, the general secretary of PCS, criticized the pay offer and raised concerns about income disparities between staff and directors.
The union’s demands include a raise above inflation and the restoration of employee benefits, which include access to a staff canteen and subsidized meals. Additionally, staff expressed dissatisfaction with the withdrawal of the civil service pension scheme for new hires since 2021.
A spokesperson for Tate noted that the institution has made careful financial adjustments to allocate funds for staff salaries without compromising its budgetary balance. Directors have opted for a pay freeze to aid in this effort. If a resolution is not achieved, ongoing strike actions could affect future exhibitions, including a show by Tracey Emin at Tate Modern set to open in February.
The Tate has faced several challenges in the past year, including workforce restructuring that resulted in the elimination of 40 roles as part of efforts to address a funding shortfall attributed to the pandemic. Other cultural entities, like the Royal Shakespeare Company, are also experiencing financial difficulties, with staff being advised to seek voluntary redundancy to mitigate a significant budget shortfall.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2025/nov/12/tate-staff-vote-strike-pay-dispute