Workers in Glasgow's museums and collections team are to take strike action later this month. 

Seventy UNISON members will strike for five days from Monday 23 October in an escalation of their campaign against cuts to jobs and services in the city's museums. 

Glasgow City Council, through its charity Glasgow Life, wants to cut 37 jobs, nearly a third of the jobs in the section. 

The roles include curators, conservators, outreach assistants, digital photographers and technicians. 

Brian Smith, UNISON branch secretary, said: "The UNISON branch is fully behind these members and disruption to the city's museums will be inevitable. 

"Our museums need more investment, not less.  The council must reverse these cuts to jobs and services." 

UNISON members working in the affected areas have provided the following comments and responses to the cuts plan.

One person said: “Cuts to the learning team will mean that free facilitated weekend activities for families - especially welcomed in this time of cost of living crises  - will be greatly reduced, and successful dementia and autism-friendly programming and programmes of Interfaith dialogue, so important in such times of division, will be put at risk.”

while another added: "The proposals will impoverish the quality of museum experiences for the people of Glasgow. While the doors will be open, the culling of expertise in caring for the collections will put the objects treasured by visitors at risk.

"Losing those who move objects and design and build the displays and exhibitions which keep local people coming back, will result in dull and stagnant spaces."

A spokesperson for Glasgow Life said: “We have received notification from Unison of their intention to invite some Glasgow Life Museums and Collections staff to participate in industrial action from October 23 to 27.

“Glasgow Life’s annual service fee was cut by Glasgow City Council when the Council confirmed its 2023/24 budget in February. As a result, we must make £7.1 million worth of savings in this financial year.

“We recognise how valued our museums and collections are to Glasgow’s communities and the city’s international profile, and we understand the concern any changes may cause. However, we have been saying for some time now that the savings we are making this year add up to around 9% of our annual service fee from the Council and ensure none of our facilities will have to close.

"Wherever possible, we have identified ways of making savings by reducing, rather than losing, Glasgow Life services, programmes, and events; retaining the potential to rebuild them in the future.

“Senior museums officers have met with Unison and our other trade unions repeatedly this year and we have written to Unison to arrange a further meeting to establish whether there is a solution to the current dispute that would avert any strike action.

“In the meantime, we will alert our customers and visitors about the potential for disruption through our website and social media channels, and we will share updates in the coming weeks should there be any change to planned service provision.”