Thursday 15 January 2015

PRIVATISATION AT THE NATIONAL GALLERY




DATE 14th Jan 2015
 

 

PRIVATISATION AT THE NATIONAL GALLERY

 
In a shock announcement in the run up to Christmas the National Gallery told 400 of its 600 staff they are to be taken over by a private company. These staff are responsible for the security of the paintings and the public, provide information about the collection, organise school bookings and look after the millions of visitors each year.
 

National Gallery steps up the attacks

Gallery managers walked away from talks aimed at avoiding privatisation and dismissed the possibility of an in-house alternative. They have now aggressively stepped up their attacks.

·       On 19 January a private company CIS will be brought in to take over the services in a third of the gallery without consultation or tendering.  CIS staff are told that it is not their job to give information to the public about the paintings on show in the gallery!

·       The National Gallery issued a legal challenge to prevent strikes against privatisation over the Christmas holidays.

 

PCS is now balloting members in a statutory ballot that will run until 23rd January and plan to start with five days of strike action in February.

 

 

HOW YOU CAN HELP

Circulate this briefing to your members and ask them to take the following actions:

 

·       Emergency Protest against backdoor privatisation Monday 19 January 6pm

At National Gallery Trafalgar Square on the day CIS private company is brought in

 

·       Ask your MP to support the campaign

Such serious plans should not be pushed through just before an election. Ask your MP to back Early Day Motion 300 and come to the PCS briefing on Wed 28 January 10:30-12:00 House of Commons room W1.  Click here to email your MP:


 

·       Make a donation to our strike fund - Thanks to those who already donated over £6000! Any donations or collections will help the campaign succeed.

Donate to Sort code 086001 Account no 20169002 or cheques to Culture Sector Hardship Fund, c/o PCS North West Region, Jack Jones House,1 Islington, Liverpool L3 8EG.

 

·       Sign and share our petition – let’s make it 50,000!


 

·       Join our mailing list or facebook page



 

 

 

 

If you require this publication in any other format, please contact the Bargaining Group Office on Tel: 0151-298 3900, or email CULTURESECTOR@PCS.ORG.UK and this service can be arranged for you.

 

In Solidarity,

 

Paul Bemrose
Negotiations Officer

 


 

 

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