Museums hit by strikes over holiday weekend

Published on Wednesday 19 May 2010 23:34

MUSEUMS and galleries in Glasgow might be closed over the May bank holiday weekend as staff take industrial action over pay and conditions.

Employees will walk out on 28 and 31 May, the GMB union said last night. The strikes will be the third time members of Unison, Unite, GMB and Bectu have walked out at sites such as the Burrell Collection and Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum.

Earlier this month libraries, museums and community centres run by Culture and Sport Glasgow were shut because of industrial action. About 1,600 staff are facing a pay freeze and the removal of overtime payments.

Martin Doran, regional organiser for GMB Scotland, said: "There will be two 24-hour stoppages and, as of Friday this week, there will be an overtime ban in place as well. This means no-one will be working any additional hours requested of them."

A spokesman for Culture and Sport Glasgow said it would try to minimise disruption and advised the public to check its website for details . He added: "We have consistently made it clear that our priority is to protect both services and jobs."

The company wants to make 3.4 million in cuts this financial year and since September last year has been discussing with unions how it will implement them.