Victimised rep Candy Udwin sacked – but fight against National Gallery bosses continues

Bosses at the National Gallery in central London have sacked leading PCS union activist Candy Udwin.

They suspended Candy in January on the eve of the gallery workers’ first five day walkout against privatisation.

Candy received formal notification of the bosses’ decision to sack her today, Friday. It follows a disciplinary hearing on Tuesday of this week.

Some 50 gallery workers and their supporters held a protest in support of Candy outside the gallery that morning.

PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka told the protest, “There can be no settlement to this strike without a just settlement for Candy, which means the charges are dropped and she is allowed back at work.

“If Candy is sacked then we will take industrial action. And we will mean action, until she is allowed back at work.”

The gallery workers are now set hold a one-day walkout on Wednesday of next week.

They’re also set to be a strike from 26 May to 4 June, and PCS has called a national protest in Trafalgar Square, central London, for 30 May.