Huge support for British Library strike

With flags and placards held high more than 100 PCS strikers have taken to the picket line each day this week supporting our British Library strike with great support from across the union movement and the public who have visited the picket in London

Our members are demanding an inflation-proof pay rise with restoration, after a second consecutive year of a real-terms pay cut. In a recent survey of British Library members, we found that most struggle each month to make ends meet.

While the British Library initially proposed a pay award of 2%, with some receiving as little as 1.6%, they have since increased the offer to 2.4%, which is still way below inflation, citing rising costs across the board including energy bills and building materials.

Disrupting services

The strike is causing disruption for the institution with a message on its website warning visitors that it will be operating a reduced service and there may be significant disruption and closures at short notice. All St Pancras Reading Rooms are closed today and tomorrow 1 November. And last night’s Queer Fantasy event was cancelled because of industrial action with the speakers showing solidarity with the strikers “campaigning for a better deal” and refusing to cross a picket line.

Show of solidarity

Visitors to the picket line this week have included PCS General Secretary Fran Heathcote, members of the PCS Tate Gallery Branch, RMT General Secretary Eddie Dempsey, UCU General Secretary Jo Grady, PCS Parliamentary Group Chair John McDonnell, MPs Jeremy Corbyn and Neil Duncan-Jordan, campaigner Andrew Feinstein and TUC General Secretary Paul Nowak.

Paul posted on his social media account that “it’s time for a decent pay rise for library staff” who “make the British library the special institution it is, and they deserve more than two years of real-terms pay cuts.”

The strikers were joined today by FBU General Secretary Steve wright and poet Sarah Lasoye.

How you can support the action

Show solidarity by cancelling tickets you have booked to any events at the British Library and by writing to speakers scheduled to speak at the library during the strike period to ask them to drop out in solidarity with strikers.

Strikers will be on the picket line outside the Midland Road entrance of the British Library (postcode N1C 4BS) from 8am to noon, from Monday to Saturday next week, with a rally planned from 6.30-7.30pm on Thursday (6). Go along and show your support for fair pay for culture workers.

  • Share messages of solidarity on social media using the hashtag #BritishLibraryOnStrike.
  • Complete our e-action to ask MPs to call for increased grant in aid funding for the library.
  • Ask your MP to support our Early Day Motion on pay at the library.
  • Follow us on social media: X: @BritLibrary; Instagram: BritishLibraryPCS
  • Donate to our strike fund so workers can continue to strike with no loss of pay.