Strike shuts Glasgow museums again

Kelvingrove was among the attractions closed by the strike

Museum and library workers in Glasgow have staged their fourth day of strike action in a month.

Union members walked out again in the dispute over pay and conditions.

The city's Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, the Gallery of Modern Art and the Burrell Collection were all closed.

Unions said they were fighting a 10% wage cut for 150 workers, a pay freeze and cuts in public holidays and overtime rates. Culture and Sport Glasgow said savings had to be made.

Libraries and sports facilities run by Culture and Sport Glasgow were also affected by the strikes but the organisation said more than half of sports facilities remained open.

'Maximum disruption'

Brian Smith of the Unison union said: "We want to defend the quality services which the people of Glasgow deserve.

"Along with the other unions, Unite, GMB and Bectu, we have tried to persuade Culture and Sport Glasgow not to carry out these attacks.

"Whilst we recognise the wide disruption that this strike action will cause, we have been left with no option."

Culture and Sport Glasgow, a charitable company which runs sport and leisure services in the city, is attempting to make cuts of £3.4m in the current financial year.

It apologised for any inconvenience caused by the strikes.

Chairwoman Liz Cameron said: "The unions have served notice that they wish to cause maximum disruption to families, visitors and those keen to make use of some of the city's best-loved venues.

"As this dispute drags on, more and more of our staff have reported for work, which has allowed us to open more than half of our sports facilities across the Glasgow Club network and many community facilities."

She said the savings had to be made and that Culture and Sport Glasgow were committed to protecting jobs and services.