‘WE are going to do everything to stop privatisation and defend out National Gallery strikers’ declared Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union president Janice Goodrich as she introduced speakers at the 1,500-strong rally in Trafalgar Square on Saturday.
The national rally opposing National Gallery privatisation and calling for the reinstatement of sacked PCS rep Candy Udwin was supported by other trade union leaders, artists and MPs.
One of the strikers, Neville, told the rally: ‘Thanks to all the people over the past few months who have supported us and sustained us. Other people are all facing the same as us. The strikers are an inspiration and we are really proud of them. We’re here today to pass a message to the director of the National Gallery Nicholas Penny and trustees chair Mark Getty – we and our jobs are not for sale.
‘We are calling you to reinstate Candy.
‘And a message to the government, we are not part of one nation, you don’t represent working people – how can they with their anti-union laws? The gallery is a public space. They say to improve the experience they need to privatise us – what nonsense! We want decent jobs and decent pay. We don’t want variable hours. I’m concerned for the younger generation, how can they have aspiration without decent jobs. Make this a fight so we’re over adversity over austerity. Victory to us all!’
National Gallery PCS branch secretary Graham told the rally: ‘A few obsessed people in the gallery want to impose something nobody wants. There is support from the public who are saying this is disgusting. This is one privatisation too much and it must be stopped. This is an unnecessary dispute because we have an alternative plan that will give the gallery the flexibility it wants. But they won’t negotiate. We must reinstate Candy at all costs because if she is not reinstated, it’s not just an attack on us but the whole trade union movement. We will do whatever it takes to do it. It will be 34 days of strike action.It’s been a long struggle but we are going on until we win. It’s a fight for everyone in this country. The fight must go on.’
PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka declared: ‘This is a dispute about greed and profit and treating people like cattle. Millionaires and spivs want to see this strike defeated.’ He called on the crowd to ‘shout you oppose privatisation. Support victimised Candy to be reinstated’, and ‘support us to keep the National Gallery public’.
He continued: ‘This strike is critical. It’s one of a number of strikes. On Monday and Tuesday, Barnet Unison are on strike against privatisation. Our union will continue to support this (National Gallery) strike in every way possible unitl our members reach an accepatble settlement. We will fight privatisation and reinstate Candy.
‘We don’t want any more privatisation and we want Candy leading us back into work doing the work she loves doing. We believe we can win this dispute, the public support us and leading figures across the art world support us. Our members at Windsor Castle voted for strike action and now have a living wage. If workers in the Queen’s Goth can win, we can win. Victory to the National Gallery strikers.’
Film maker Ken Loach told the crowd: ‘The people standing here are the real heroes. Inside that building are great works of people who understood the human condition. You can’t say the same about bosses, they are mean-spirited. We should remind them of the universal declaration of human rights that states everyone has a right to a job and to join a trade union.
‘This privatisation is part of a long history of privatisations that is now at the heart of public services. That has led to a society that’s mean and this government is mean. A government that hurts the disabled. Now TV is showing fascist programmes like Benefits Street and the BBC is going to show a programme that shows poor people queuing for low paid jobs. And the competitors for the leadership of the Labour Party all went to speak to the employers. One said the employers were heroes, but the heroes are here not in the CBI.’ Loach added: ‘Unions have the right to demand the support of other unions, and to demand people respect art and culture and should not cross picket lines. Victory to the strikers.’
Artist Robin Roberta said: ‘In 2010 we used to spend 7p in every pound on arts. That’s gone down to three and a half pence in the pound. The Arts Council says 25% funding is enough and theatres should be treated as businesses. Putting public spaces under the management of private companies is wrong. He read out a letter to the National Gallery which included: ‘In this country we are telling kids art is not worth teaching. We need to tell them about art because art is about democracy.’
The letter condemned ‘low pay in one of the most expensive cities in the world’. He concluded: ‘Oppose calls for privatisation.’
Barnet Unison chair Helen Davies told the rally: ‘Your strike inspired my branch to take strike action.
‘On Monday and Tuesday, Barnet Unison will be on strike against privatisation. We want you to march with us, and we’re planning to strike again on July 8th, on Budget Day.’
Artist Mark Wallinger declared to the rally: ‘The Tory government has no place for the arts in its education policy which amounts to a gross instrumentalisation of the human spirit in which the “aspirations of working people” are only valued in terms of economic output.’ He added that ‘our cultural institutions are viewed as nothing less than unproductive corporations and curtail the rights of the people who work there.’ He urged: ‘Let’s move away from talk of outsourcing and the creative industries and think of what this place means. The National Gallery is the sum of the expertise and commitment of the staff, the power of the collection and the enthusiasm of six million visitors.’ Wallinger concluded by calling on both sides to compromise and reach an agreement soon.
NUT general secretary Christine Blower told the rally: ‘If these jobs are privatised children won’t get the excellent service they get from the National Gallery. We are all the people who stand for the services and public spaces that people want. We will stand with you until a just settlement is reached. You stood with us against the privatisation of education. And you can’t call yourself a trade union unless you stand up for your reps. Reinstate Candy Udwin.’
Udwin addressed the rally saying: ‘They want to turn art into a rich man’s playground. I have been sacked because I asked how much employing a private company would cost. Well I’m asking you all to send freedom of information requests to ask how much it costs. You can see this government has given the green light to employers. Two other reps have been sacked. Because this government is coming for us and for trade union rights. That shows they’re scared of us. We need more protests, more strikes.’
Labour MP John McDonnell said: ‘We’re going to raise this dispute in parliament. We will be raising the issue of cuts in public services. We have no alternative now but for strike actions, demonstrations and occupations. We don’t need to talk about repealing laws but to resist. MPs must be on the picket lines and join occupations.’
PCS members and reps at the rally went further telling News Line there need to be a general strike to bring the government down. PCS Portsmouth area defence sector branch secretary Geoff Lange said: ‘We’re here against privatisation. It’s a lie, it’s our public money. You take the NHS, I’m already paying for treatment as a taxpayer and I’m happy with that as everybody is. I’m not happy in paying any company and their shareholders. We have a PFI at Queen Alexander Hospital in Portsmouth. That happened under Labour and we are still paying. I agree there should be a general strike. I was saying that when the coalition was in power. I would support occupations to stop the closure of hospitals.’
Lynne Hows, Birkenhead Benefits Centre PCS rep, said: ‘I’m here today to support Candy Undwin and say no to privatisation. How dare they bring in people to privatise these people’s jobs who do have an understanding of teaching our kids about the works of art. To bring in a private company who know nothing about art is a travesty. If we don’t stand and fight with Candy and other reps and members at the National Gallery, then tomorrow they will be wanting to privatise all public sector jobs. There should be a general strike. If the TUC leaders don’t want to call one, they should move over and let those of us who want it, have it.’
Kate, an artist, told News Line: ‘I’m here standing with Candy. This is the National Gallery not a private gallery, it belongs to all of us. I’m an artist and I go there for inspiration. I support the union fighting the privatisation. This government is destroying everything that the British people have built up for generations. It should be brought down, they don’t behave responsibly.’