OTTAWA - Over 200 unionized workers, members of Local 70397 of the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) at the National Gallery of Canada and the Canadian Museum of Contemporary Photography, began a general strike at 10:00 a.m. this morning.

"Our employer has left us no other choice," stated Local President Jim Prowse. "There is little respect and recognition at the bargaining table for the professional services that our members provide on a daily basis. Our employer repeatedly makes wage offers that would effectively perpetuate disparities between our earnings and the cost of living in this region. Furthermore, the National Gallery refuses to even match comparable wage settlements recently achieved by our colleagues in other local museums, despite the fact that all national museums are funded by the Department of Canadian Heritage. It makes absolutely no sense."

Workers at the two museums have repeatedly demonstrated their overwhelming support for their bargaining team’s efforts and tried to convince management to take their demands seriously. For several weeks now, PSAC members have increased their public protests and resorted to work to rule. The few negotiation meetings held during the month of April, however, did not result in any appreciable improvement in management’s final contract offer.

"The PSAC fully supports its members," said Nycole Turmel, PSAC National President. "The National Gallery of Canada must understand that these workers deserve the respect they are asking for. The strike will have a considerable impact on Gallery activities and on the important summer exhibition featuring painter Gustav Klimt, set to open on June 15, upon which much is riding. If I may paraphrase the exhibition title, it’s time that the Gallery management got serious about "a contract in the making" for its employees, and returns to the bargaining table with an offer that tangibly reflects recognition of the workers’ professional contributions toward fulfilling the institution’s mandate."

Negotiations between the PSAC and the Gallery broke off on March 2, 2001 after several meetings facilitated by a conciliator. Further talks in April with a mediator also failed to achieve any significant progress. Management’s salary proposals were still below the current regional inflation rate of over 3%, and the 2.5% yearly increases achieved by PSAC workers at the Canada Science and Technology Museum and the Canada Aviation Museum.

Workers at the National Gallery of Canada and the Canadian Museum of Contemporary Photography have been in a legal strike position since 12:01 a.m. on April 6. The union served notice to strike to the employer on April 6 and have been engaging in work to rule since April 9.

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Information:    - Jim Prowse, Bargaining Team member and President, PSAC Local 70397, (613) 282-2354
                        - Anne Jolicoeur, Bargaining Team member, PSAC Local 70397, (613) 282-2354

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