Most of the rooms in the Sainsbury Wing of London's National Gallery remained open despite industrial action today, 4 August, by some of its staff opposed to the privatisation of security staff. But it was a different story behind the Trafalgar Square entrance of the gallery. The wooden doors beneath the portico remained shut and the majority of rooms to the east and north of the Central Hall were behind temporary barriers.
Rooms containing 17th-century paintings, including works by Rembrandt and Vermeer, as well as many works by British artists were shut. Only three rooms containing 19th- and 20th-century paintings were open, although works by Van Gogh, Manet and Seurat were accessible. Notices apologised for inconvenience caused by these "substantial closures".
Meanwhile, in Trafalgar Square members of the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union, which represents public sector staff, held banners and gave interviews explaining their case and calling for the reinstatement of a senior union representative who is challenging her dismissal at an ongoing employment tribunal.
Last week, the National Gallery announced that it had appointed the company Securitas to manage some of its front of house and security staff. All members of staff affected "will have the option to move to Securitas with the same terms and conditions," the gallery said in a statement, something that the PCS trade union disputes.
The trade union plans further strikes during August, on top of the more than 50 days of industrial action that have taken place so far. The gallery warns visitors of room closures on 5, 6 and 12 August.
Gabriele Finaldi is due to succeed Nicholas Penny as the director of the National Gallery this month. Finaldi was its curator of Spanish and Italian paintings in the 1990s, before he headed to the Prado in Madrid. The union is asking Finaldi to intervene before it starts an "all out" strike on 17 August.
