05/10/2015

National Gallery Staff Return To Work Following Strike

Staff members at the National Gallery have returned to work after an agreement was reached to end a dispute over privatisation.

Members of the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union took industrial action on 11 August.

Since February, it has taken more than 100 days of strike action.

It opposed the privatisation of the gallery's visitor services staff.

The PCS said it had been unable to prevent the privatisation going ahead but it had reached a deal with the gallery and contractor Securitas.

The union added staff will also now receive the London Living Wage.

General Secretary Mark Serwotka said: "We still do not believe privatisation was necessary but we will work with the new company and the gallery to ensure a smooth transition and, importantly, to ensure standards are maintained at this world-renowned institution."

(LM/CD)

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