London. The ‘Turner & Constable’ exhibition, one of Tate Britain’s major events this year, opens on 27 November. But it could be disrupted: staff at the Tate museum network have started a strike planned from November 26 to December 2. More than 150 members of the PCS, the union which voted 98% in favor of the movement, are expected to participate. All museums in the network in London, St Ives (south-west of England) and Liverpool (north-west) are affected. If no blockages are planned, pickets should discourage visitors from entering.
At the heart of the protest is the question of wages. The PCS refuses the 3% increase of the Tate, judged “insulting”. According to the organization, 72.2% of members employed by the group believe that their current salary does not cover their essential needs. In response, Tate explained that the best way to invest in people was to “maintain a sustainable financial model”. However, since the Covid-19 pandemic, the network has faced economic difficulties linked largely to a drop in attendance (6 million visitors in 2024-25 compared to 8.26 million in 2019-2020). To which are added inflation and economic pressures of all kinds. This autonomous public body, under the sponsorship of the Ministry of Culture, functions as a charitya non-profit organization. If the status brings some tax advantages, state subsidies only represent a third of the resources (£54 million, or €61 million for 2024-2025); its fiscal year begins on April 1 and ends on March 31 of the following year. That same year, commercial revenue, including donations and bequests, was £113.2 million (€128.6 million).
In early fall 2024, a situational operations review was conducted to optimize outcomes. A layoff plan was announced in the spring concerning around forty positions. According to the Tate, this “rationalization” of staff was achieved by the non-replacement of vacant positions (criticized by the PCS), voluntary departures and a single “dry” dismissal.
The union recalls that this plan is part of a list of decisions that have degraded working conditions. In 2020, Tate announced the elimination of 120 jobs in its museums, a few months after having made 300 layoffs in its commercial activities (shops, restaurants, publishing, etc.). In 2021, access to the civil service pension plan was withdrawn from new employees of the group. Instead of obtaining a lifetime annuity, they will have a pension whose duration and amount are based on the accumulated capital. Finally, in 2024, Tate offered a salary increase below the level of inflation.
A budget under pressure
But as the 2024-2025 financial year ended with an operational deficit of almost £5 million (€5.7 million), it was necessary to draw on reserves (which amount to £14 million, €16 million) to pay the expenses. The directors had to vote for authorization to this effect.
The board hopes to rectify this situation within the next two years. An endowment fund for research and acquisitions was launched in June to raise €150 million (€170 million) by 2030. The Tate will try to increase its own income through ticketing, boutiques and even events. Paradoxically, the network confirms its desire to maintain free access to its permanent collections, a practice made official in 2001 across the Channel. The increase in income could come through premium access to exhibitions and the organization of blockbusterslike the Frida Khalo retrospective planned for 2026 at the Tate Modern. It is within this framework that the 3% salary increase proposed to the PCS was defined. For the Tate, this is even a significant effort, while the directors have agreed not to be increased to contribute to the balance of overall costs. Negotiations are likely to be difficult.
