Strike at NG

The National Gallery strike by members of the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union continued into its second day, causing substantial room closure. Shown is a striker outside the National Gallery. The Gallery claims the move to a private company is "essential", due to a reduced grant, increased maintenance costs and the need to pay staff the London living wage. This is arrant nonsense. How does a private firm provide extra cash when it also needs to make a profit? The notion makes Dr Nicholas Penny, director of the Gallery, and his executive team look like a bunch of incompetents. The strike runs until 7 February (CLICK).