News release

June 7, 2005

Workers at Museum of Civilization vote in favour of strike

The 400 members of the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) at the Canadian Museum of Civilization voted yesterday 88 per cent in favour of a strike, if negotiations with their employer do not produce a new agreement.

“Our members have just issued a serious warning to the management of the museum,” explained Ed Cashman, the executive vice-president of the National Capital Region of the PSAC.  “They want priority issues such as the use of contracting out to be resolved at the bargaining table.  Moreover, we will resume negotiations on June 16, and we believe this overwhelming vote in favour of strike action will help us get our message across.

“However, if we cannot come up with an agreement that not only protects the rights of employees but also the mandate entrusted to the Museum of Civilization to protect Canada’s heritage, we will then go ahead with strike action.  Management of the Museum must show some flexibility if it wants to avoid having its operations disrupted in the upcoming weeks.”

PSAC members work at the Museum of Civilization, at the new War Museum and also at the Children’s Museum and the Postal Museum.  Their collective agreement expired on March 31.

At a demonstration held last May 26 when the Pompeii exhibition was launched at the Canadian Museum of Civilization, union members revealed that the management of the museum has been sidestepping the mandate given to it by the Parliament of Canada and earmarking increasing funds to the privatization of its operations.  Between 1999 and 2004, the funding set aside for external consultants and agency employees rose from $6.6 million to $11.6 million, an increase of 75%.

PSAC members are responsible for setting up exhibitions, greeting visitors and handling security, administration and the maintenance of collection belonging to the Canadian people.  Negotiations between the parties began in April and will resume for seven days starting on June 16.

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Information:            Alain Cossette, PSAC Communications

                                  (613) 560-4317

27-070605