The article details a struggle by workers at the Art Gallery of Victoria (AGV) and Museums Victoria (MV) in Australia against job cuts and deteriorating working conditions imposed by the Labor government. Faced with funding cuts and restructuring, the institutions are slashing positions, impacting visitor services, curatorial roles, and education programs.
The workers, members of the Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU) and the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS), have expressed anger and frustration over the lack of communication and transparency from management. They fear the cuts will damage the quality of services offered to the public and place increased strain on remaining staff.
The article criticizes the unions’ response as inadequate, accusing them of prioritizing collaboration with management over defending workers’ interests. Specifically, the unions are faulted for accepting vague promises and failing to organize meaningful industrial action to oppose the job cuts. The unions’ strategy is framed as limiting the scope of industrial action and preventing a wider mobilization of members. This inaction, the article contends, serves to isolate the workers and ultimately enables the government’s austerity measures.
find the original article here: https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2025/09/17/dkvy-s17.html