Museums and libraries closed by fourth walk-out

MUSEUM and library workers in Glasgow staged their fourth strike day in a month over pay and conditions.

The dispute came as tax workers were today due to hold a protest outside the UK Treasury about cuts in the opening times of their offices.

The Public and Commercial Services union said 58 tax enquiry centres across the UK were having their hours slashed, sometimes to just one or two days a week.

The PCS claimed the cuts coincided with errors with tax codes sent out for the new tax year because of problems with a new computer system.

Glasgow's Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, the Gallery of Modern Art and the Burrell Collection were all closed during yesterday's strike. Unison said it was fighting a 10 per cent wage cut for 150 employees, a pay freeze and public holiday and overtime rate cuts. Brian Smith of Unison said: "We want to defend the quality services which the people of Glasgow deserve."

Libraries and sports facilities run by Culture and Sport Glasgow were also hit by the strikes but Culture and Sport Glasgow, a charitable company which runs sport and leisure services in the city, claimed more than half of sports facilities stayed open.

Group chair Liz Cameron said: "The unions have served notice that they wish to cause maximum disruption to visitors, families and those keen to use the city's best-loved venues."