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From The Socialist newspaper, 17 August 2015
National Gallery all-out strike goes on as bosses sell off jobs
Strikers at the National Gallery go all-out, August 2015, photo by Socialist Party (Click to enlarge)
James Ivens
The prolonged dispute at the National Gallery turned to indefinite strike on 11 August. Management has now signed guest services over to notorious outsourcers Securitas, showing total unwillingness to negotiate.
Incoming director Gabriele Finaldi will face daily picket lines from members of public service union PCS. Although bosses have now taken the unilateral decision to privatise, strikers are still confident they can win.
One major concern is that gallery assistants could be forced to work other Securitas contracts such as concert venues. Standard outsourcing attacks on pay and conditions could also come down on workers. And management still refuses to reinstate victimised union rep Candy Udwin.
Pickets have so far had good support from other trade unionists and members of the Socialist Party.
- Please invite strikers to speak at your union branch: [email protected]
- Send strike fund donations to sort code 08-60-01, account number 20169002
- Cheques to PCS Culture Media and Sport Association, c/o PCS North West Region, Jack Jones House, 1 Islington, Liverpool L3 8EG
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In The Socialist 17 August 2015:
Socialist Party features
The Labour Party, Militant and 'infiltration'
Gulf War 'unfinished business' remains today
Socialist Party reports and campaigns
Fascists caged, humiliated and driven out of Liverpool
We won't pay for their crisis!
Anger at bus service cuts in Sheffield
TUSC by-election boost in Grimsby and Cleethorpes
Socialist Party news and analysis
Corbyn stand: A welcome upheaval in British politics
Solidarity with the Polish workers' strike
Government discrimination against EU workers
Workplace news and analysis
Socialist challenges right winger for Unison leadership
National Gallery all-out strike goes on as bosses sell off jobs
London tube's summer of strikes joined by First Great Western
Probation and courts union Napo needs socialist leadership
Uni unions ready Manchester jobs fight
Retail union must fight Sunday trading deregulation
International socialist news and analysis
Greece: Building a new left alternative after Syriza capitulation
Ireland: drop the prosecutions, scrap the water charges
US: Kshama Sawant leads Seattle primary elections count on 50%
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