Strike hits exhibition launch

The action would disrupt an exhibition opening

Staff are planning to disrupt the opening of a major exhibition at Scotland's leading modern art gallery in a dispute over pay.

A one-day strike at the Gallery of Modern Art, in Edinburgh, is designed to coincide with the launch of its summer exhibition on 5 July.

Members of the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) said the action followed months of negotiations to try to secure a pay rise for gallery staff.

The launch of the new display, New: Recent Acquisitions of British Contemporary Art, on Friday will be closed to the public.

But the action, which hinges on negotiations with management on Monday, could affect the press preview and VIP reception to mark the opening of the exhibition.

Overtime ban

The union said all the buildings run by the National Galleries of Scotland would be forced to close if the strike went ahead.

It wants a 4% pay rise across the board, a guaranteed scale of pay increases and the restoration of premium pay rates for weekends.

The 120 staff at Edinburgh's four national galleries have refused to work overtime since April as part of the ongoing dispute.

Prolonged dispute

Union negotiator Albie O'Neill said: "This situation has dragged on for far too long.

"PCS members earning as little as £4.26 an hour have been waiting for a pay rise since August last year and are not prepared to wait any longer.

"If good progress is made on Monday, then we would of course suspend the action.

"We have said all along that we do not want our dispute to affect the public, which is why we have chosen a date when the gallery is already closed to the public."