Several prominent horror writers, including Joe Hill, son of Stephen King, have decided to boycott the Tales of the Weird event scheduled to take place at the British Library this weekend. The festival was designed as a celebration of spooky stories and lost ghost tales, featuring comedians, actors, folk horror writers, and Witcher author Andrzej Sapkowski.
The decision comes after the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) announced that its members would be going on strike over issues with pay at the central London institution. The union claims that workers are being paid poverty wages, which has sparked a 98% vote in favor of strike action among its members.
Hill cited his mother's possible reaction as a reason for his withdrawal from the event. "After discussing the situation with other writers and doing my homework I agreed it was best not to do the event," he said. V Castro, a Texas-born Mexican-American author, also pulled out of the festival, stating that "a living wage and the ability to feed oneself and their family shouldn't be up for debate."
The strike began on Monday and is set to run until November 9, with 300 members taking part. The union's key demand is for an inflation-proof pay rise with restoration after a second consecutive year of real-terms pay cuts.
A PCS spokesperson said that the strike was sparked by rising costs, including energy bills and building materials, which led to a proposed pay award of 2%, significantly below the cost-of-living rate. The union claims that workers are struggling each month to make ends meet.
The British Library has stated that it will maintain its buildings open during the strike period with reduced services, potentially resulting in significant disruptions and reading room closures.
Tales of the Weird was intended as an event celebrating spooky stories and lost tales from the library's collections. However, several writers have instead chosen to boycott the festival out of solidarity with striking workers, highlighting the complexities of issues surrounding pay and working conditions in creative industries.
The decision comes after the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) announced that its members would be going on strike over issues with pay at the central London institution. The union claims that workers are being paid poverty wages, which has sparked a 98% vote in favor of strike action among its members.
Hill cited his mother's possible reaction as a reason for his withdrawal from the event. "After discussing the situation with other writers and doing my homework I agreed it was best not to do the event," he said. V Castro, a Texas-born Mexican-American author, also pulled out of the festival, stating that "a living wage and the ability to feed oneself and their family shouldn't be up for debate."
The strike began on Monday and is set to run until November 9, with 300 members taking part. The union's key demand is for an inflation-proof pay rise with restoration after a second consecutive year of real-terms pay cuts.
A PCS spokesperson said that the strike was sparked by rising costs, including energy bills and building materials, which led to a proposed pay award of 2%, significantly below the cost-of-living rate. The union claims that workers are struggling each month to make ends meet.
The British Library has stated that it will maintain its buildings open during the strike period with reduced services, potentially resulting in significant disruptions and reading room closures.
Tales of the Weird was intended as an event celebrating spooky stories and lost tales from the library's collections. However, several writers have instead chosen to boycott the festival out of solidarity with striking workers, highlighting the complexities of issues surrounding pay and working conditions in creative industries.
I mean, I get it, pay is a huge issue, but it's not just about personal financial struggles, it's about the value we place on people's work. Do we really think our entertainment and cultural exports are worth less than their own lives? 
I guess what I'm saying is, there's more going on here than just a writers' strike. There's a bigger conversation about the value of labor and the role of creatives in society. 
anyway, it's cool that they're standin' up 4 themselves & fightin 4 what's right. but at the same time, i'm also a little bummed out 'cause i was lookin' forward 2 see some spooky tales & stuff. guess u gotta weigh the importance of payin' ur writers versus keepin' the festival goin... 
. joe hill is like, super cool & his mom stephen king's wife would probably be all about this too 
. its not just about the money though, its about respect for creators who bring magic to our lives through words. maybe we should support the PCS union & get behind their cause? 
. The union is fightin' for better pay and conditions, which is def worth supportin' 
. I mean, writers are creatives too, they deserve to be treated fairly 
.
and honestly if joe hill and v castro r boycotin events over it why not others? its a major issue but lets support the writers strikin 4 better pay & working conditions 
the union is fighting for a fair deal but its ironic that ppl like me who just scroll thru reddit all day can afford to buy whatever they want 
. I mean, come on Joe Hill's mom passed away a while back so it's not like she'd be all upset if he attended. And V Castro is just making a huge point about the importance of living wages - it's not just about him, it's about all the writers and workers who are struggling to make ends meet 
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. PCS union members deserve better pay and conditions, no doubt about it 
i hope the strike helps get them a fair pay rise