Horror authors, including the son of Stephen King, are backing striking workers at the British Library by boycotting an event over worker pay. The Writers' Festival, which took place this weekend, was supposed to feature several well-known horror writers but ended up being a ghost story for many.
Joe Hill and other writers, such as Keith Rosson and V Castro, have withdrawn from the festival in solidarity with the striking workers. Their decision not to attend is largely due to the low wages that British Library staff receive, which has sparked widespread outrage among writers and fans alike.
"It's no wonder that the PCS ballot returned a result of 98% voting in favour of strike action on a turnout of 75%" said a Public and Commercial Services Union spokesperson.
The festival organizers had proposed a pay award of 2%, with some staff receiving as little as 1.6%. The union, however, is demanding an inflation-proof pay rise with restoration, citing rising costs across the board including energy bills and building materials.
In response to the strike, the British Library has stated that they will keep all their buildings open but plan to operate a reduced service during this time. There may be significant disruption and reading room closures at short notice.
The decision by horror writers to back striking workers is a powerful statement about the value of fair pay and benefits for public sector workers. As Keith Rosson said, "I have profound respect for librarians as a profession – I dedicated a recent novel to them – and won't cross a picket line."
For many fans, the festival was not just about celebrating horror literature but also about supporting the hardworking staff who make the British Library a vibrant cultural hub. As V Castro said, "A living wage and the ability to feed oneself and their family shouldn't be up for debate."
The strike highlights the ongoing struggle of public sector workers in the UK to secure fair pay and benefits. By standing in solidarity with striking workers, horror writers are sending a clear message that they value hard work, dedication, and fair treatment – values that should be reflected in wages and working conditions.
Joe Hill and other writers, such as Keith Rosson and V Castro, have withdrawn from the festival in solidarity with the striking workers. Their decision not to attend is largely due to the low wages that British Library staff receive, which has sparked widespread outrage among writers and fans alike.
"It's no wonder that the PCS ballot returned a result of 98% voting in favour of strike action on a turnout of 75%" said a Public and Commercial Services Union spokesperson.
The festival organizers had proposed a pay award of 2%, with some staff receiving as little as 1.6%. The union, however, is demanding an inflation-proof pay rise with restoration, citing rising costs across the board including energy bills and building materials.
In response to the strike, the British Library has stated that they will keep all their buildings open but plan to operate a reduced service during this time. There may be significant disruption and reading room closures at short notice.
The decision by horror writers to back striking workers is a powerful statement about the value of fair pay and benefits for public sector workers. As Keith Rosson said, "I have profound respect for librarians as a profession – I dedicated a recent novel to them – and won't cross a picket line."
For many fans, the festival was not just about celebrating horror literature but also about supporting the hardworking staff who make the British Library a vibrant cultural hub. As V Castro said, "A living wage and the ability to feed oneself and their family shouldn't be up for debate."
The strike highlights the ongoing struggle of public sector workers in the UK to secure fair pay and benefits. By standing in solidarity with striking workers, horror writers are sending a clear message that they value hard work, dedication, and fair treatment – values that should be reflected in wages and working conditions.
. If a bunch of horror authors are willing to sacrifice their time and platform to stand with workers who deserve better pay, that says a lot about where we prioritize in life 
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. And if 98% of those workers voted in favor of strike action, that's a clear message that something needs to change 
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. As V Castro said, a living wage is not up for debate – and that's a message we should all be supporting 
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. I mean, we're talking about institutions like the British Library being a hub for learning and creativity, but still they get to live on minimal wages? It's just not right. 
. It's not just about celebrating literature; it's about supporting the people who make that possible. And as V Castro said, a living wage should be up for debate? Absolutely! We need more of this kind of activism and advocacy for public sector workers.
, did anyone else know about this strike before it happened? i felt like the festival was gonna be cancelled lol 
, what do you guys think about the writers boycotting the event, is it a clever move or just another example of rich folks trying to make a point about poverty 
. It's just another example of how out of touch some people are with reality. I mean, 2% pay award? Come on! That's like expecting a new phone every year or something 
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. It's like, hello! We're all human beings here 
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But seriously, 2% pay award is a joke, right? It's not like the cost of living in the UK isn't already sky-high.
it's not just about the writers, its about the fans too - who wouldn't want to support a vibrant cultural hub like that? 
the fact that the strike is getting so much attention shows that people care about fair pay and benefits, and i think thats AMAZING 
! It's all about speaking truth to power and showing solidarity with those who deserve it 
. It's a powerful statement that goes beyond just writing horror novels – it's about valuing hard work and treating people with respect 
. The fact that 98% of PCS ballot voters supported strike action is mind-blowing 
. I mean, who needs free books and festivals when you're fighting for a decent living wage? It's about time someone stood up to those greedy library admin people 
. But seriously though, it's heartbreaking that workers have to resort to striking just to get some respect and fair treatment 
Anyway, kudos to Keith Rosson for speaking up and V Castro for being all about the people 
I'm so impressed by those horror authors! Joe Hill and his friends are not just writers, but also good humans who care about their fellow workers 
. I mean, come on, inflation is rising and people need to make ends meet. The idea that the British Library can operate with such low wages is just not fair 
. We should all be proud of them for setting a good example! 
. I got mad respect for Keith Rosson for speaking truth to power like that 
. If you're gonna celebrate horror lit, you gotta support the people behind it 
. The British Library is more than just a place, it's a community, and we should be looking out for each other 
. It's about time someone showed the powers that be who really runs the country – the hardworking people on the front lines 
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just heard about this 
i mean, who wouldn't want to support people who are fighting for what's right? 
anyway, love how Keith Rosson and V Castro are speaking out about the importance of living wages 
can't wait to see what other writers jump on board this amazing cause 
. It's all about respect and fairness, right? And I love how Keith Rosson called out the low wages like that - we need more voices speaking up for workers 
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. now the fans are feeling it too, all this disruption and stuff, but at least the writers are standing up for something that matters - fair pay and benefits 
I'm so disappointed to hear that the writers' festival was basically cancelled due to low pay for the library staff 
I love horror books too! But let's be real, we're not going to write any bestselling novels while our servers are down because the librarians can't afford food 
As a parent, it makes me so frustrated when I see people being treated unfairly in their workplace 
We need more of these solidarity statements from the writers' community – maybe some Netflix shows will follow suit? 
The British Library strike has got me thinking... how can we expect to celebrate the works of authors who create thrills and chills if the people who help us access those same books are struggling to make ends meet?