| Senior PCS rep at the National Gallery, Candy Udwin, has been sacked by her employers. Candy received a letter on Friday 15 May following her disciplinary hearing on Tuesday 12 May. She has been sacked on trumped up charges of ‘breaching commercial confidentiality’. From No Privatisation at the National Gallery: “We’re extremely disappointed to have to announce that The National Gallery have sacked PCS Union rep Candy Udwin following her disciplinary hearing. This is an attack not only on Candy, but on the whole trade union movement, in line with the government’s attack on the right to strike. We must be able to ask questions of management without fear of intimidation or dismissal, especially when tax payers’ money, and the question of its appropriate use, is involved.” Candy was suspended on the eve of the first five day strike against staff privatisation at the gallery back in February. Candy’s sacking is an attempt to break the union at the gallery. PCS members have so far held 23 days of strikes. There will now be an escalation of the strikes starting with a one day strike on Wednesday 20 May and two weeks from: Tues 26th May-Thurs 4th June. The campaign for Candy’s reinstatement is a fight for every trade unionist. If they can get away with sacking Candy they can sack anyone. This treatment can’t be allowed to become the status quo under this Tory government. It’s a disgrace. PCS have called a national demonstration to support members at the gallery on 30 May to say no to privatisation, no victimisations, reinstate Candy. Be there on 30 May! From PCS “PCS is holding a rally in Trafalgar Square on 30 May to support members striking against privatisation and victimisation at the National Gallery. Staff at the gallery who have been told that their jobs and the work that they do – looking after the security of paintings and millions of visitors – are likely to be sold to a private company are due to take their 24th day of action on Wednesday (20 May). Members are also on strike again from 26 May to 4 June and ask you to join them on their picket line on 30 May. The signing of the contract for the preferred bidder is expected to be in August. In addition, we are calling for the reinstatement of Candy Udwin, a senior PCS rep at the gallery who was suspended just before the strike began in February. What you can do: • Help mobilise for the demonstration on Saturday 30 May, 1pm Trafalgar Square, download the leaflet here • Download the #ReinstateCandy poster and take a ‘selfie’ tweet to @NGNotForSale with #ReinstateCandy #NoPrivatisation or post to the Facebook group here • Join the picket lines 9-11am at the National Gallery, Trafalgar Square, Wednesday 20 May and 26 May- 4 June |