Workers at the National Gallery in London are to strike over staff cuts that mean they are unable to do their jobs properly.

PCS members will walk out of the major tourist venue between 1pm and 3pm on Thursday, 19 January and between 4pm and 6pm on Saturday, 28 January.

More strikes are possible if management don’t review staffing levels.

Assistant posts have been reduced after the government axed 15% from the gallery’s budget in October 2010. There used to be one assistant per room but this is no longer the case.

Last summer Nicolas Poussin’s ‘Adoration of the golden calf’, a valuable work of art, was vandalised in a room without an assistant. The union believes it would not have happened had a member of staff been there at the time.

Some of the permanent public galleries have been closed during the current sold-out Leonardo Da Vinci exhibition.

Workers at the gallery who took part in the ballot voted 80% in favour of strike action.

Trades unionists and fans of the National Gallery are welcome to visit picket lines in Trafalgar Square.

SUPPORT THE ACTION

NATIONAL GALLERY

Trafalgar Square. WC2

Thursday, 19 January 1pm and 3pm

Saturday, 28 January 4pm and 6pm