WORKERS at the National Galleries of Scotland are set to walk out during the Edinburgh Fringe in protest over “serious health and safety concerns” and the proposed closure of exhibitions.
Members of the PCS Union have overwhelmingly voted in favour of walkouts in August over “detrimental changes” to working practices for Gallery Attendants, it has emerged.
The union has argued that gallery staff in the Security and Visitor Experience team have raised “major concerns” over a number of issues.
Concerns outlined by staff include the new minimum staffing level requirements, which they claim pose serious concerns over health and safety.
They also state the proposed changes threaten the quality of experience for visitors and would result in frequent room and floor closures of exhibitions.
The union said the National Galleries of Scotland failed to consult staff over the changes and have justified their actions under the Scottish Government's Public Service Reform Strategy.
PCS Scotland national officer, Ruby Gibson, said she believes that the decision is the first of “many attacks on workers as part of the Government's cuts agenda”.
She said: “This ballot result is a clear message to NGS management that our members will not allow damaging changes to be imposed upon them.
“This situation exposes the reality of Ivan McKee’s Public Service Reform strategy for what it is – more cuts to public services with no regard for the workforce.
“While the government are full of rhetoric about 'consulting the workforce', the reality is that highly paid and unaccountable senior leaders are charging ahead, cutting service delivery with complete disregard for the people who do the actual work.
“PCS will not allow the government’s plans for Public Service Reform to act as a smokescreen for attacks on jobs and conditions.”
PCS is the largest civil service union and represents 27,000 workers across Scotland.
The union said there was an 81% turnout and 80% voting in favour of strike action.
Dates for the walkouts have yet to be revealed.
A spokesperson from the National Galleries of Scotland, said: “Colleagues, visitors and the art in our care remain our top priorities. Staffing levels in our Security and Visitor Engagement team have increased by 16% compared to 2023/24 and 2025/26 averages. Working practices and operations remain the same under the structure agreed following PCS consultation in 2023.
"We chose not to fill five vacant positions in line with our long standing organisational approach to vacancy management. No one has lost their jobs and service delivery is unaffected.
"Our operational requirements remain dynamic and we will shortly be joined by 52 new colleagues for our summer exhibitions.”
