British Library strike action

PCS members at the British Library went on strike for a two-day programme of action on 16th and 17th May.

The strikes were the start of a wave of action across the culture and heritage sector, forming part of the PCS national campaign against imposed government cuts to pay, pensions, jobs and working conditions.

Up to 300 workers at the British Library’s main site in St Pancras, central London, went on strike on Thursday 16th May.

Two-thirds of the library’s reading rooms were closed on the day and strikers led a protest outside the press launch of the library’s new exhibition “Propaganda: Power and persuasion”.

This action was followed on 17th May by a one-day strike at the British Library in Boston Spa, West Yorkshire.

Almost 200 workers supported the strike which caused significant disruption across all areas of the Boston Spa site. At both sites, union members and reps held pickets and turned away the public.

Michael Docherty, British Library PCS, in a personal capacity