Mark Serwotka’s letter (Union not to blame for National Gallery strikes, 7 August) contains some inaccuracies. The procurement process for outsourcing some of our visitor services was not brought forward. The timings for each stage were made public when we put this contract to tender and at no time have we deviated from these.
The National Gallery’s executive, which would have preferred to keep these services in-house, has always been open to discussions with the unions. It was the gallery which initiated the meetings with Acas and we even halted proceedings to give the PCS time to develop a viable alternative plan. Unfortunately their proposal does not satisfy our requirements, as stated in the original tender document.
There will be no redundancies, and terms and conditions of employment will be protected. All staff who are transferred will continue to be paid the London living wage as a minimum and will enjoy additional benefits. Their welfare will be safeguarded by the terms of our partnership with the supplier. We believe that Securitas, with its extensive experience of working with cultural institutions in several European countries, will attend carefully to the needs and interests of those working for them – and will improve our services to an ever-increasing and changing public, which has been frustrated by many years of strike action.
Nicholas Penny
Director, National Gallery
• You refer to football sponsors (Premier League scores so far, Sport, 8 August) but compare with the Edinburgh International festival: festival partners, principal donors, corporate associates, trusts and foundations, benefactors and patrons. Those are merely the main headings. What is the problem with football clubs seeking sponsors?
PJ White
Edinburgh
