Why you should vote Yes for strike action at the Tate
Members have been subject to years of cuts, downgraded pensions, and below-inflation pay offers which have left workers struggling.
Our ballot for strike action over pay opened on 14 October and closes on 11 November.
In our recent survey of PCS members working at Tate Galleries, 75.6% of participants said they were “very dissatisfied” with the 2% pay award that was initially offered.
Although that has now been increased to 3%, it is still far from an acceptable pay award that will provide members with security and a decent standard of living.
In the same survey, 72.2% said that their current salary is not enough to meet basic living costs, answering “I am struggling”. When asked if the cost-of-living crisis had affected them in any way, 50% of members answered they had struggled to pay rent, 57.8% reported struggling to pay bills, and 51.1% stated they were struggling to pay for food or other essentials.
Can’t afford the basics
Many members shared personal accounts of how low pay is affecting them.
One member told us “I can’t afford the basics and have to cut down on food, social activities and health activities. My mental health is suffering due to anxiety as I’ve been living in my overdraft since last year.”
Another said: “Every year I dread how much my rent will go up. If this year the rent increases in the same pattern as previously, this pay rise won’t be enough to cover the rent rise. Not to mention food, gas, electricity, everything else that will go up inevitably.”
And one told us: “I am a carer for my partner alongside my role at Tate. This means my income is all we have to sustain ourselves. I have eaten into almost all my savings to the point now that the rainy day fund is dry. Luxuries like holidays, gigs, events, and eating out are things we no longer do as all of our money needs to be put into essentials. I had to move out of London as the rent became too expensive to live.”
Please vote yes in the ballot for strike action, to send management a strong message that you deserve better. Return your ballot paper today.
For any questions, please contact PCS Culture Group Secretary, Hareem Ghani at [email protected].