Tate staff stage week-long strike over pay amid reports of workers using food banks | Museums

Staff at Tate facilities in the UK are staging a seven-day strike over pay and conditions at the arts institution; Some say they have had to turn to food banks.

The strike is planned to last until 2 December and coincides with the opening of Tate Britain. Turner and Officer exhibition.

On Thursday, the second day of strike action, staff on the picket line at Tate Britain held signs reading: “Treat staff like art! Handle with care”; “Goodwill does not pay the bills”; and “Director’s bonus = my salary”. Another Guardian review-style banner read: “Tate Gallery review – portrait of staff in disarray.”

At the main entrance of Tate Britain, visitors were warned that although the galleries were open, “some areas may need to be closed at short notice.”

Outside staff said two restructurings, layoffs and below-inflation wage increases in five years had taken a toll on morale.

Susete Almeida, president of the Tate Britain Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union, said there was anger that the gallery had offered below-inflation pay rises for the second year in a row at a time when many staff were struggling financially.

“They can no longer afford their rent, members are on universal credit and some are using food banks,” she said.

A Tate spokesman said Tate Modern, Tate Britain and Tate St Ives were open as normal. However, Tate Liverpool, which was closed for renovations and operates out of the RIBA building, had to close as a result of strike action.

“Tate has made careful savings this year to invest in staff pay and still achieve a balanced budget. This includes a 3% pay increase for most positions, including all employees in the lowest three pay bands, while directors receive a 0% increase to help offset overall costs,” the spokesman added.

“Only by creating and maintaining a sustainable financial model can we continue to invest in our staff over the long term.”

The strike followed a vote by the PCS in which 98% of members voted for action, with a turnout of more than 87%.

Workers were offered pay rises of between 2 per cent and 3 per cent, but the PCS said it thought this was “insufficient” at a time of “rising living costs and widespread low pay concerns”.

The union called the offer “insulting” and demanded above-inflation wage increases as well as the return of staff benefits, including canteen and subsidized meals. There is also anger over the agency’s decision to withdraw access to the public service pension scheme for starters from 2021.

A PCS member working in the Tate’s library and archives said: “I think it’s ridiculous that the executive bonus is equal to my annual salary. Many of us are struggling to cope with rising rent and food prices.”

A statue conservationist who asked to remain anonymous said people were being laid off because of low wages. “People look at our work and say it’s great to work with these works of art, and it is, but it’s not a hobby,” they said. “We still have rent, mortgages and bills to pay. Plus, our salary is decreasing every year, so it’s hard to maintain that.”

“Our canteen was giving us subsidized hot meals, and some of the people who worked there were so poorly paid that it was their only hot meal of the day,” said one front desk worker.

PCS is one of three unions representing staff in the galleries. The Guardian is aware that the other two have agreed to the pay deal, but PCS members have a significant presence across the organisation.

The strike could cause operational disruptions ahead of Christmas. The Guardian understands that if no agreement is reached the action could continue into the new year, potentially affecting exhibitions such as Tracey Emin’s Tate Modern exhibition opening in February.