Members of the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS), who have been engaged in a dispute with the National Gallery, London since November last year over moves to privatise their jobs, have announced further action. The move follows the gallery’s dismissal of union representative Candy Udwin.
In a statement, general secretary of the PCS, Mark Serwotka, said: “The first act of the National Gallery management following the election is to sack one of our senior reps. This a direct attack on our union.”
Udwin had been at the forefront of opposition to the privatisation plans which would see a private security firm take over 400 of the 600 jobs at the gallery. She was initially suspended in January for, according to Serwotka, “sharing information about the use of a private security firm with her full-time union official”.
Serwotka believes the suspension was in fact an attempt by the gallery to block Udwin’s participation in talks between the union and employers which were due to take place at Acas on 30 January, and describes her eventual sacking on 15 May as a “a gross abuse of power”.
Calls for re-instatement
Strike action by PCS members is planned for Wednesday 20 May, with a further 10 days of strikes to take place 26 May – 4 June. The union has also called for a national demonstration in Trafalgar Square on Saturday 30 May in support of the campaign against privatisation and as a rallying cry to call for Udwin’s reinstatement. Union members are also appealing to the National Gallery’s new director Gabriele Finaldi to intervene and halt the privatisation plans.
Asked to comment on the matter, the National Gallery issued the following statement: “We would never comment on disciplinary matters relating to individual staff members whilst they are ongoing, as they are confidential matters between those involved and the National Gallery.”
A petition against the privatisation of the National Gallery now contains nearly 44,000 signatures while a separate petition is calling for Udwin to be reinstated.
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