Strike ballot at museums

HUNDREDS of staff at museums, galleries and libraries in Glasgow will be balloted on strike action, a union confirmed yesterday.

Unison said staff are unhappy with plans to change their terms of employment including a pay freeze from 1 April as part of a bid by Culture and Sport Glasgow to cut costs by 3.4 million.

The city's Kelvingrove Art Gallery and the Burrell Collection are among the sites which could be affected by a strike.

Martin Doran, an organiser for GMB Scotland, said: "The call for industrial action comes as Culture and Sport Glasgow are planning to impose draconian cuts which is inclusive of reducing salaries, the removal of six public holidays and the issue of no premium rate for overtime. There was a mass meeting of employees on Wednesday evening and there was a unanimous vote taken."

There are 500 GMB members who are employed by Culture and Sport Glasgow.

Doran said that around 2,000 workers, who are members of unions, will be balloted during the next four weeks on whether they want to take industrial action or not.

A spokesman for Culture and Sport Glasgow said: "We are committed to protecting both jobs and services, but the harsh reality is that we must find savings of 3.4m in the next year. To do so, we are looking to reduce overtime and implement more flexible working."