Tate asks employees to contribute to boat for Director

The Tate is feeling the wrath of their staff base, after asking employees to help pay for a boat for their departing Director, Nicholas Serota.

A notice left in the staff room asked all employees to “put money towards a sailing boat” as a “surprise gift” for Serota – The Guardian reports.

The poster read: “Nick loves sailing and this would be a lasting and very special reminder of the high regard which I know so many of us have for Nick and his contribution to Tate.”

The memo has caused something of a ruckus, after the institution is currently facing allegations of outsourcing, as well as low pay disputes and the end of staff discount in the canteen. The gallery sources a large amount of its staff trough Securitas, a firm which doesn’t pay the London living wage – they actually pay the workers less than those hired directly by Tate for the same jobs.