Tate strikers show strength and creativity
By the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS)
Solidarity and creativity were all to the fore from over 150 PCS members engaged in 7 days of strike action across all 5 Tate Gallery sites over the employer’s refusal to offer workers an inflation-proof pay award for a second consecutive year
PCS organised 6 days of picketing in total, from 26 November to 2 December, allowing a day’s rest on Sunday, 30 November. The strike action was a fantastic display of creativity, which reminded bosses everywhere why you should never upset art workers. Our favour placards from the pickets included:
- “Tate hasn’t got Auerbach”
- “Want minimalism? Look at our pay!”
- “Kapoor in the Gallery, Ka-POOR in our salary!”
Otherwise, the days consisted of home-made vegan treats, an evening picket to coincide with Tate Modern lates, and a strike playlist consisting of a whopping 551 songs.
Great public support
But that’s not all, PCS members were met with a fantastic display of public solidarity. For example:
- Strike a Pose in Liverpool raised over £1,800 for striking Tate workers.
- MP Zarah Sultana expressed solidarity with striking Tate workers during her first address at Your Party Conference.
- Taring Padi art collective made a beautiful lino print highlighting the importance of cross-border solidarity.
An ever-growing list of creatives also expressed statements of solidarity with striking Tate workers, including:
- Travis Alabanza
- Ed Atkins
- Jeremy Deller
- Jasleen Kaur
- Zarina Muhammed
- Christelle Oyiri
- Zeinab Saleh
- Linsey Young, and
- Abbas Zahedi.
Further, PCS was delighted to welcome over 20 speakers on the picket line, which included:
- Former Turner Prize winners Helen Cammock, Jesse Darling, Mark Leckey, Elizabeth Price, Mark Wallinger and Tai Shani
- Politicians Kim Johnson and John McDonnell, and
- Representatives from Artists Union England, Orgreave Truth and Justice Campaign, and Artists and Cultural Workers LDN.
The picketing concluded on 2 December with more than 175 people attending the picket line. This was followed by a trip to The Lord Nelson in Southwark where workers gathered to celebrate the end of seven days of strike action.
PCS is currently engaged in intensive talks with Tate Galleries to resolve the dispute. Both parties last met on Thursday (4 December). For further information, contact PCS Culture Group Secretary Hareem Ghani: hareemg@pcs.org.uk
- You follow the PCS on Facebook, Twitter/X and Instagram, and their General Secretary Fran Heathcote on Twitter/X.
- This was originally published on the PCS website on 8 December 2025.
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