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Quick thread about the protests against mass redundancies in the arts (in London).
Tl;dr – over 1000 workers in the arts (and indeed, along a small stretch of the Thames) are set to lose their jobs within a month.
Branches are organising, and will need support from wider mvmt
Tl;dr – over 1000 workers in the arts (and indeed, along a small stretch of the Thames) are set to lose their jobs within a month.
Branches are organising, and will need support from wider mvmt
On June 24 @Tate_United reported that @Tate [or rather Tate Enterprise, a separate firm that runs cafés etc] planned to make 200 staff redundant.
On July 3, the Guardian reported that the @NationalTheatre plans to make 400 casual staff, from backstage and FoH, redundant. & ..
On July 3, the Guardian reported that the @NationalTheatre plans to make 400 casual staff, from backstage and FoH, redundant. & ..
On July 16, @PCS_Southbank (SBC) announced that SBC would be making nearly 2/3s of staff would be losing their jobs.
(Bear in mind all these three workplaces a short walk from each other.)
(Bear in mind all these three workplaces a short walk from each other.)
The first public action was from PCS Tate branch on 24 July, who protested cuts as the T Modern opened to the press. (PCS' report here: https://tinyurl.com/y66e44jr )
The second was a 50-strong demo the following Monday 27, as reported on by @homershame here: https://tinyurl.com/y4lwel3h
The second was a 50-strong demo the following Monday 27, as reported on by @homershame here: https://tinyurl.com/y4lwel3h
As LH reported, PCS Tate demand 3 things:
1/ If bailout money is available it must save jobs
2/ If the money isn’t enough, then institutions must demand more funding
3/ No redundancies while senior staff continue to be paid annual salaries of over £100,000.
1/ If bailout money is available it must save jobs
2/ If the money isn’t enough, then institutions must demand more funding
3/ No redundancies while senior staff continue to be paid annual salaries of over £100,000.
The third and last action was last Saturday Aug 1, from PCS SBC, workers at the NT (outside of Bectu structures), as supported by several UCU branches, BP Or Not BP, and Vanessa Redgrave.
Short report on Saturday's demo here: https://tinyurl.com/yyem2jh5
Short report on Saturday's demo here: https://tinyurl.com/yyem2jh5
Sat 1 Aug coincided with an Open Letter from SBC staff. If you read anything linked here, read this: https://saveoursouthbank.com/
"When SBC reopens in 2021 it will operate with an entirely new operating structure, based, according to senior management, on a ‘start-up’."
"When SBC reopens in 2021 it will operate with an entirely new operating structure, based, according to senior management, on a ‘start-up’."
Hope can say without ego that the combining of unions was helped by cosa nostra, the Art Workers Forum, which is developing as a shop stewards network in the art industry.
Please be in contact if you're a trade unionist in the arts facing redundancy.
Please be in contact if you're a trade unionist in the arts facing redundancy.
Basics are:
- massive attacks across these three art workplaces (doubtless many others too), which
- fall dsprprtnlty on casualised and BAME workers (see the Open Letter)
- PCS taking the initiative
- there is money!
- we need mass protests
- road runs out after ~4 weeks
- massive attacks across these three art workplaces (doubtless many others too), which
- fall dsprprtnlty on casualised and BAME workers (see the Open Letter)
- PCS taking the initiative
- there is money!
- we need mass protests
- road runs out after ~4 weeks
From @Tate_United just now: ‘our ballot results for strike action are in and 88.6% of members in
Tate Commerce vote YES on a 79%’ - see everyone in mid-Aug.
Tate Commerce vote YES on a 79%’ - see everyone in mid-Aug.
Tate strike dates, starting Tues 18th.
AgiTate (sub-PCS grouping leading effort, I believe) here: https://www.facebook.com/AgiTate-420032988201491/
AgiTate (sub-PCS grouping leading effort, I believe) here: https://www.facebook.com/AgiTate-420032988201491/
Not just an employment issue: 'What will change from 2021 [at Southbank] (...) is that the centre will directly produce just 10 per cent of its arts activity. The remaining 90 per cent – “rentals” – will be provided by other partners and promoters.' https://tinyurl.com/y4rr45xd (NSt)
Had missed it, 8 July EDM in regards Tate redundancies.
Fantastic to see support from the DUP
3 things
-Socialist Appl on 1 Aug: https://tinyurl.com/y5m4cel2
-Art Forum on cmpgns, Tate strike: https://tinyurl.com/y66p5mgx
-Elephant 'The art world, already a precarious and elitist space that few can afford to enter, looks set to become even smaller.': https://tinyurl.com/y4o7xrf3
-Socialist Appl on 1 Aug: https://tinyurl.com/y5m4cel2
-Art Forum on cmpgns, Tate strike: https://tinyurl.com/y66p5mgx
-Elephant 'The art world, already a precarious and elitist space that few can afford to enter, looks set to become even smaller.': https://tinyurl.com/y4o7xrf3
@PCS_Southbank will launch consultative ballot on 10 Aug over, q is whether members 'prepared to take action in defence of their redundancy terms, and their jobs.' (nb SBC have offered worse redundancy deal than agreed)
https://www.pcs.org.uk/news/pcs-to-launch-ballot-as-southbank-centre-confirms-cuts-to-redundancy-pay-for-hundreds-of-staff
https://www.pcs.org.uk/news/pcs-to-launch-ballot-as-southbank-centre-confirms-cuts-to-redundancy-pay-for-hundreds-of-staff
Strike fund for Tate Commerce (put a £10 in, match it if you're good for it): https://www.gofundme.com/f/tate-commerce-strike-fund
And from SBC branchsec @garethspencer, top piece: https://tribunemag.co.uk/2020/08/how-the-southbank-centre-betrayed-arts-workers
And from SBC branchsec @garethspencer, top piece: https://tribunemag.co.uk/2020/08/how-the-southbank-centre-betrayed-arts-workers
On @PCS_Southbank's
- consultative ballot & Unite's joining possible industrial campaign (run for a week, then a postal ballot [forget how long takes], then a two-week "cooling off" period, iirc)
- and their request that SBC apply for gov funds
https://www.theartnewspaper.com/news/strike-action-looms-at-tate-and-southbank-centre-as-unions-fight-restructuring-plans
![On @PCS_Southbank's - consultative ballot & Unite's joining possible industrial campaign (run for a week, then a postal ballot [forget how long takes], then a two-week "cooling off" period, iirc)- and their request that SBC apply for gov funds https://www.theartnewspaper.com/news/strike-action-looms-at-tate-and-southbank-centre-as-unions-fight-restructuring-plans](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EfI3PKgWkAYiJAD.png "On @PCS_Southbank's - consultative ballot & Unite's joining possible industrial campaign (run for a week, then a postal ballot [forget how long takes], then a two-week \"cooling off\" period, iirc)- and their request that SBC apply for gov funds https://www.theartnewspaper.com/news/strike-action-looms-at-tate-and-southbank-centre-as-unions-fight-restructuring-plans")
- consultative ballot & Unite's joining possible industrial campaign (run for a week, then a postal ballot [forget how long takes], then a two-week "cooling off" period, iirc)
- and their request that SBC apply for gov funds
https://www.theartnewspaper.com/news/strike-action-looms-at-tate-and-southbank-centre-as-unions-fight-restructuring-plans
Email to Tate Commerce staff from management (thanks @thewhitepube).
'313 redundancies', 'selection process is likely to conclude by mid-September'
'313 redundancies', 'selection process is likely to conclude by mid-September'
One correction, the employer in Tate case is Tate Commerce Ltd., a wholly-owned sub of Tate.
Real story here is the Guardian getting their info off White Pube, just take a couple of union reps out for lunch once in a while ya cheapskates https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2020/aug/12/tate-galleries-to-make-half-of-commercial-workforce-redundant?utm_term=Autofeed&CMP=twt_gu&utm_medium&utm_source=Twitter#Echobox=1597233102
A link to Tate Commerce workers' strike fund.
They need ~2k more to go out without too much financial worry: https://www.gofundme.com/f/tate-commerce-strike-fund
Plus a reminder that Tate's (and Tate Commerce's) Boards are political appointees, most from Tory govs.
They need ~2k more to go out without too much financial worry: https://www.gofundme.com/f/tate-commerce-strike-fund
Plus a reminder that Tate's (and Tate Commerce's) Boards are political appointees, most from Tory govs.
Art workers and wider movement invited to solidarity protest with Tate strikers. Saturday 22 August.
Please share this far and wide: https://www.facebook.com/events/725551438234293/
Please share this far and wide: https://www.facebook.com/events/725551438234293/
This is great from @SophieHemery on the campaign at the Tate. V thorough, and brings out attractions of working in the arts (I guess industry-specific ideologies of work): https://preview.tinyurl.com/yy2xehsz
FB event for next Saturday's rally is here: https://tinyurl.com/y52qfzmo
FB event for next Saturday's rally is here: https://tinyurl.com/y52qfzmo
".. we present a banishing spell to rid the Tate Modern of the baleful influence of its bourgeois structures. .. we are here to support you as reproductive workers who maintain the conditions for artistic production .." Unsure what to make of.
http://www.psychogeography.org/tate-bastard/
http://www.psychogeography.org/tate-bastard/
wonder if it's possible to write a paragraph containing the word 'banishing' without also using 'baleful' at some point
1st day of the @Tate_United strikes, running through week. Links:
Event for Tue, Wed, Fri, Sat, 11-3pm (see photo): https://tinyurl.com/yxjryut6
And Sat, the week final, for the wider movement to show solidarity: https://tinyurl.com/y6bvj6bs
Strike fund (dig!): https://tinyurl.com/y2msys2t
Event for Tue, Wed, Fri, Sat, 11-3pm (see photo): https://tinyurl.com/yxjryut6
And Sat, the week final, for the wider movement to show solidarity: https://tinyurl.com/y6bvj6bs
Strike fund (dig!): https://tinyurl.com/y2msys2t
I forgot where I got photo, props/apols to whoever took it
Crrctn ^: Tate strikes are from Tate Commerce wrkrs, in the shops. TC is a 'division' (other is Tate Catering) of Tate Enterprise Ltd., a whlly-wnd sub of Tate . I think (!) TC is the employer for legal purposes.
Crrctn ^: Tate strikes are from Tate Commerce wrkrs, in the shops. TC is a 'division' (other is Tate Catering) of Tate Enterprise Ltd., a whlly-wnd sub of Tate . I think (!) TC is the employer for legal purposes.
Two more campaigns on river, at Soutbank cntr and NT.
@PCS_Southbank got balloting, results imminently, fingers x'd.
Longer article on it: https://tinyurl.com/yymyvmu5
Their first demo is two Saturdays off (29th), gonna be good: https://tinyurl.com/y2b7xztd
Pic crrnt Private Eye:
@PCS_Southbank got balloting, results imminently, fingers x'd.
Longer article on it: https://tinyurl.com/yymyvmu5
Their first demo is two Saturdays off (29th), gonna be good: https://tinyurl.com/y2b7xztd
Pic crrnt Private Eye:
back to Tate, just now
"Although not all staff are picketing, the protests have left a number of Tate gift shops closed." + solid pledge from Serwotka.
Good article on Tate strikes: https://news.artnet.com/art-world/tate-strike-1902476
Good article on Tate strikes: https://news.artnet.com/art-world/tate-strike-1902476
Yes yes
Also Tate striker saying scabbing from Tate Catering (see above) ppl minimal, and that shops remained shut today. https://www.cornwalllive.com/news/cornwall-news/protest-outside-tate-st-ives-4435818
Also Tate striker saying scabbing from Tate Catering (see above) ppl minimal, and that shops remained shut today. https://www.cornwalllive.com/news/cornwall-news/protest-outside-tate-st-ives-4435818
Ethereum for the win ( @Tate_United)
Haven’t read, but author David Beech wrote a brilliant book of Marxist (innovatively, ‘Capital-centric’) theorising of art. https://artreview.com/the-artworld-crisis-of-solidarity/
"Turner bursary recipients stand in solidarity with Tate gallery workers", very strong
Tate now hiring Visitor Assistants, without offering roles to staff threatening with redundancy.
Reminder for this Saturday's protest: https://facebook.com/events/s/mass-protest-for-striking-tate/725551438234293, be there or be [ ]
![Tate now hiring Visitor Assistants, without offering roles to staff threatening with redundancy. Reminder for this Saturday's protest: https://facebook.com/events/s/mass-protest-for-striking-tate/725551438234293, be there or be [ ]](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Ef3PIUGXgAAPV7I.png "Tate now hiring Visitor Assistants, without offering roles to staff threatening with redundancy. Reminder for this Saturday's protest: https://facebook.com/events/s/mass-protest-for-striking-tate/725551438234293, be there or be [ ]")
Reminder for this Saturday's protest: https://facebook.com/events/s/mass-protest-for-striking-tate/725551438234293, be there or be [ ]
A pastiche of Duchamp’s (or was it his?) urinal, plus a New Statesman piece.
Obvs these strikes in the
‘civilised’ arts titilating NS eds, but they were ‘neutral‘ on q of Corbyn vs. Johnson so they can fuck themselves. (Piece good, tbf to writer)
https://www.newstatesman.com/culture/art-design/2020/08/tate-staff-left-alienated-and-disheartened-after-gallery-announces-313
Obvs these strikes in the
‘civilised’ arts titilating NS eds, but they were ‘neutral‘ on q of Corbyn vs. Johnson so they can fuck themselves. (Piece good, tbf to writer)
https://www.newstatesman.com/culture/art-design/2020/08/tate-staff-left-alienated-and-disheartened-after-gallery-announces-313
Excellent line-up for tomo's event, 11-3, Tate Modern.
FB here: https://m.facebook.com/events/725551438234293
FB here: https://m.facebook.com/events/725551438234293
@Tate_United 's Saturday protest was
(1/2)
Org'd by striking workrs, felt militant and directed, but also a breadth to it. ~150 ppl.
1st time a snr Lab pltcn spoken in person in support of these riverside campaigns (was the EDM a while back). Also cpl of CLPs.
(1/2)Org'd by striking workrs, felt militant and directed, but also a breadth to it. ~150 ppl.
1st time a snr Lab pltcn spoken in person in support of these riverside campaigns (was the EDM a while back). Also cpl of CLPs.
2/2
Talks from union and art ppl, good having mix. Leckey's was great: https://www.instagram.com/tv/CEMXJnlFAo8/?igshid=1l790i0rvckyq
Daily Mail only nat coverage I saw: 'They wanted a Jackson Pollock but they got a Jeremy Pi11ock instead' in comments, etc.
More from Tate, Soutbank and National Theatre v soon.
Talks from union and art ppl, good having mix. Leckey's was great: https://www.instagram.com/tv/CEMXJnlFAo8/?igshid=1l790i0rvckyq
Daily Mail only nat coverage I saw: 'They wanted a Jackson Pollock but they got a Jeremy Pi11ock instead' in comments, etc.
More from Tate, Soutbank and National Theatre v soon.
3/2
Photos by Steve Eason: https://www.flickr.com/photos/127991958@N06/
Zarina Muhammad's (White Pube) speech also killed it: https://www.instagram.com/tv/CEMVyrilRU_/?igshid=1a5jj9sj7hs8g
Photos by Steve Eason: https://www.flickr.com/photos/127991958@N06/
Zarina Muhammad's (White Pube) speech also killed it: https://www.instagram.com/tv/CEMVyrilRU_/?igshid=1a5jj9sj7hs8g
today,
- Tate United announce strikes indefinite, believe (!) it's now every day for foreseeable.
- good piece from @lukepcartledge
on art unions: https://tribunemag.co.uk/2020/08/trade-unionism-in-the-arts
- & 100+ art educators (UCU and NEU) pledge no excursions to Tate: https://tribunemag.co.uk/2020/08/open-letter-arts-educators-say-no-to-tate-redundancies
n1 Tribune
- Tate United announce strikes indefinite, believe (!) it's now every day for foreseeable.
- good piece from @lukepcartledge
on art unions: https://tribunemag.co.uk/2020/08/trade-unionism-in-the-arts
- & 100+ art educators (UCU and NEU) pledge no excursions to Tate: https://tribunemag.co.uk/2020/08/open-letter-arts-educators-say-no-to-tate-redundancies
n1 Tribune
Demo this Saturday, starting at National Theatre 10am, big collab between Bectu NT and @PCS_Southbank. 
FB for Saturday: https://www.facebook.com/events/304129887492360+ NT Casuals got a new FB page, give it a like for updates: https://www.facebook.com/NTcasuals
Letter of support for PCS SBC from a group of artists, whose own touring group-show is organised by Haywood Gallery (part of SBC).
See close-up photo for details of SBC management's 'disaster capitalism' strategy.
Also Frieze article on Tate: https://www.frieze.com/article/why-tate-staff-are-strike
See close-up photo for details of SBC management's 'disaster capitalism' strategy.
Also Frieze article on Tate: https://www.frieze.com/article/why-tate-staff-are-strike
This the best report on last Saturday's SBC-NT collab rally: https://tinyurl.com/y67lj5rr
On Tate, see wider workfrc's spprt for strike: https://tinyurl.com/y5rcgjmb
If UCU, come tomo morning to Tate Britain picket, 9.30-10: https://www.facebook.com/events/4533529073354649
And see pic for Friday's public demo.
On Tate, see wider workfrc's spprt for strike: https://tinyurl.com/y5rcgjmb
If UCU, come tomo morning to Tate Britain picket, 9.30-10: https://www.facebook.com/events/4533529073354649
And see pic for Friday's public demo.
+, huge number of NT workers (250 FoH, 150 backstage) lost jobs yesterday. Below's a testimonial from one worker.
Follow @ArtsCasuals for more. Demands are:
1/ that NT 'Pay What They Owe',
2/ pref re-hiring
3/ no 0-hours
Hoping Bectu is able to push them over next months.
Follow @ArtsCasuals for more. Demands are:
1/ that NT 'Pay What They Owe',
2/ pref re-hiring
3/ no 0-hours
Hoping Bectu is able to push them over next months.
This thread now indefinite 1/2
Les événements du week-end dernier:
- UCU joined Tate Britain pickets on 04/08
- Artists Tai Shani in ArtReview: https://tinyurl.com/y6fzzxym
- SBC's key workers bullshit falls pancake-flat: https://tinyurl.com/y2nw253d
Les événements du week-end dernier:
- UCU joined Tate Britain pickets on 04/08
- Artists Tai Shani in ArtReview: https://tinyurl.com/y6fzzxym
- SBC's key workers bullshit falls pancake-flat: https://tinyurl.com/y2nw253d
- TWT session on redundancies in arts: https://tinyurl.com/y368pfl2
- Piece by Micha F-C (more culture crit column, cool that involves labour): https://tinyurl.com/y572urkl
- Comic xplainer on Tate strikes (pic)
- &, disquietingly, strikers halted picket due to police Sunday (pic) 2/2
- Piece by Micha F-C (more culture crit column, cool that involves labour): https://tinyurl.com/y572urkl
- Comic xplainer on Tate strikes (pic)
- &, disquietingly, strikers halted picket due to police Sunday (pic) 2/2
