THE polite silence at England’s oldest public art gallery was shattered on Saturday as workers staged a protest against job losses and slashed wages.

Workers at the prestigious Dulwich Picture Gallery were joined by local residents as they took a stand against management’s brutal cost-cutting programme.

The protest in one of London’s most affluent areas proved a success as activists and members of the public joined in solidarity.

The Unite-affiliated gallery assistants — who have yet to be recognised by their employer — stood strong, issuing a statement which read: “We love working at the gallery, we love the paintings and we love our visitors.

“We believe the proposed redundancies are unjustified and unfair and that they will ultimately jeopardise and damage the relationship we have developed with our customers throughout the years.”

Senior management at the gallery is currently proposing to halve visitor-services staff and moving remaining jobs into annualised-hours contracts without overtime rates.

To replace leaving workers, the gallery is planning introducing apprentices and casual staff — earning a mere £2.73 per hour.

A staff rep told the Morning Star that workers were now consulting with management but that did not mean the campaign and the protests would come to a halt.

“More demos and public rallies ahead,” she added.

This weekend’s protest also proved an opportunity for locals and the arts community to unite in struggle.

Dulwich Hamlets FC fans and Brixton’s Ritzy Cinema workers joined University of the Arts London (UAL) students in support of the gallery assistants.

UAL student union president Shelly Asquith regretted how the gallery was “being run increasingly for the interests of private profit.

“Having spoken to one of the workers there, who is a graduate of UAL, we realised how important fights like this are for us — for our chances of finding work — as much as for the staff and the local community.”