Hundreds at London’s British Library go on strike, as Tate workers consider action – The Art Newspaper

Around 300 workers at the British Library in London have gone on strike in a dispute over pay. The Public and Commercial Services union (PCS), which organised the industrial action, says that its members will man picket lines from 27 October to 9 November.

The two-week strike could disrupt the opening of a major new exhibition, Secret Maps (until 18 January 2026), which reveals “the stories hidden in some of history’s most mysterious maps”.

PCS says that their members’ key demand is for an “inflation-proof pay rise” as many employees are “forced to work second jobs and take out loans to pay their bills and meet housing costs”. The union adds that the British Library has increased its pay rise from 2% to 2.4%, or £800 if higher in value, but “refused to negotiate a fair pay deal that reflects the contribution of our members”.

Museums Journal reports that plans to offer £5,000 in annual bonuses to library directors as part of a restructure were abandoned after PCS revealed the plans.

A British Library spokesperson said that all buildings will remain open during this time. “We will be operating a reduced service and there may be significant disruption and reading room closures at short notice. The latest information can be found on our website.”

Meanwhile more than 100 PCS members who work across Tate’s four sites are being balloted for possible strike action in a separate pay dispute. The postal ballot for strike action at Tate closes on 11 November at noon.

Tate initially offered a 2% pay increase for workers in 2025/26, according to PCS. “This has now been increased to 3% but is still lower than the Civil Service Pay Remit and does not address the issues of low pay at the institution,” a union statement says.

PCS also claims that “senior leaders” at Tate take home total remuneration packages ranging from £195,000 to £320,000. A Tate spokesperson tells The Art Newspaper that the remuneration figures cited include increases in the value of Tate pensions and that all salaries at Tate are below £195,000.

PCS general secretary Fran Heathcote adds: “Food prices, rent, energy bills, and transport costs are all surging, but they expect our members to live off crumbs.”

The Tate spokesperson says: “Tate has made careful savings this year in order to invest in staff pay and still achieve a balanced budget. This includes a 3% salary increase for most roles, including all employees on the lowest three pay bands, while directors are taking a 0% increase to help balance the overall costs. It is only by creating and maintaining a sustainable financial model that we can continue to invest in our staff in the long term.”