OTTAWA - Ushers and guides at the National Arts Centre (NAC) in Ottawa, members of the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC), voted by a strong majority, yesterday, in favour of a strike. The some 60 workers have thus given their negotiating team the mandate to launch the strike at the appropriate time in order to obtain a fair and equitable salary offer from the NAC.

"We want the NAC management to recognize the sacrifices we have made in the past, and to offer us decent wage increases," indicated Tom Sparks, member of the union’s negotiating team. "Three years ago, when the NAC finances were in the red, we understood management’s needs and we accepted a three year contract including minimal increases. Today, now that the National Arts Centre has once again found the profit path, we would like our wages adjusted to take into account the increase in the cost of living and the sacrifices we agreed to in the past."

During recent contract talks, and at a conciliation meeting held on October 2, the NAC proposed increases which would be acceptable for new employees, but it refused to change substantially the salary ranges for the ushers and guides who have been working for the NAC for more than 18 months. Those employees would only obtain minimal increases this time. Yet, they are the ones who had to face the budget restraints during the previous negotiations in 1998.

"We are not asking for an astronomical amount," added Sparks. "The NAC has yearly expenses of $50 million, of which $15.6 million go to salaries. If management granted us what we want, this would only represent a few cents for every thousand dollars it spends on salaries. The NAC just gave substantial annual increases to the musicians of the NAC Orchestra. We also want to be compensated fairly," concluded Sparks.

The National Arts Centre ushers and guides will be in a legal strike position on October 26. These workers greet visitors at the various NAC entertainment activities. Their collective agreement expired on March 31, 2001.

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Information :

Tom Sparks, member of the PSAC Local 70291 negotiating team, (613) 233-2117

Mark Pecek, PSAC regional representative - (613) 560-4299