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DATE
14th Jan 2015
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PRIVATISATION
AT THE NATIONAL GALLERY
In a shock announcement in the run up to Christmas
the National Gallery told 400 of its 600 staff they are to be taken over by a
private company. These staff are responsible for the security of the paintings
and the public, provide information about the collection, organise school bookings
and look after the millions of visitors each year.
National Gallery steps up the attacks
Gallery managers walked away from talks aimed at
avoiding privatisation and dismissed the possibility of an in-house
alternative. They have now aggressively stepped up their attacks.
· On 19 January a private
company CIS will be brought in to take over the services in a third of the
gallery without consultation or tendering.
CIS staff are told that it is not their job to give information to the
public about the paintings on show in the gallery!
· The National Gallery
issued a legal challenge to prevent strikes against privatisation over the
Christmas holidays.
PCS is now balloting members in a statutory
ballot that will run until 23rd January and plan to start with five
days of strike action in February.
HOW
YOU CAN HELP
Circulate
this briefing to your members and ask them to take the following actions:
·
Emergency Protest
against backdoor privatisation Monday 19 January 6pm
At
National Gallery Trafalgar Square on the day CIS private company is brought in
·
Ask your MP to support
the campaign
Such
serious plans should not be pushed through just before an election. Ask your MP to back Early Day
Motion 300 and come to the PCS briefing on Wed 28 January 10:30-12:00 House of
Commons room W1. Click here to email
your MP:
·
Make a donation to our
strike fund - Thanks to those who already donated over £6000! Any donations or collections will help the campaign succeed.
Donate to Sort code 086001 Account no 20169002 or cheques
to Culture Sector Hardship Fund, c/o PCS North West Region, Jack Jones House,1 Islington,
Liverpool L3 8EG.
·
Sign and share our petition –
let’s make it 50,000!
·
Join our mailing list or facebook
page
If you require this
publication in any other format, please contact the Bargaining Group Office on
Tel: 0151-298 3900, or email CULTURESECTOR@PCS.ORG.UK
and this service can be arranged for you.
In Solidarity,
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Paul Bemrose
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Negotiations Officer
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