The Tate Museums in England have been facing turmoil as they recently cut 7% of their workforce due to a post-pandemic slump. However, the aftermath of this decision has led to more than 150 workers across Tate Britain, Tate Modern, Tate Liverpool, and Tate St. Ives planning to go on strike starting November 26. The workers, represented by the Tate Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS Tate United), are striking over wages, citing below-inflationary pay raise offers over the past two years.
A recent survey conducted by the union revealed that 72.2% of its members struggle to afford basic living costs with their current salaries. This comes at a time when prices in the United Kingdom have risen by 3.8% in 2025. The union spokesperson criticized the museum’s initial 2% pay raise offer for 2024, which was later increased to 3% for the following year. Despite this increase, PCS Tate United believes that the offer does not adequately address the issue of low pay within the institution.
The discontent among workers was further fueled by job cuts earlier this year, which resulted in the closure of a subsidized dining hall for staff members. The ongoing dispute is primarily focused on pay issues, with workers feeling the impact of continuous cutbacks and restructures within the museum. The closure of the staff canteen and the subsequent redundancies only added to the frustration among employees.
In response to these grievances, a Tate spokesperson explained that directors at the museum did not receive salary increases this year as part of efforts to maintain a balanced budget. The spokesperson emphasized that the offer of a 3% pay increase was accepted by the other two unions at Tate. Despite these efforts to manage finances, workers remain dissatisfied with the current state of affairs.
This strike comes on the heels of a previous strike in 2020 when the museum announced plans to cut 313 jobs, nearly half of its workforce. The General Secretary of PCS, Fran Heathcote, highlighted the disparity between the high salaries and bonuses of Tate directors compared to the in-work poverty experienced by staff members. The overwhelming support for strike action reflects the frustration and determination of workers to address these pressing issues.
As the strike looms and tensions rise, the future of Tate Museums hangs in the balance. The impact of this industrial action on gallery operations remains to be seen, but one thing is clear – the workers are united in their quest for fair wages and better working conditions.
