Canadian Museum of Nature
February 20, 2012
Strong majority vote for strike at Canadian Museum of Nature
Workers at the Canadian Museum of Nature (CMN) have given their bargaining committee a strong (78%) strike mandate in a vote held on February 15. The Museum workers are represented by the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) and work at two locations: the main building on McLeod St. in Ottawa as well as administrative offices in Gatineau. The PSAC filed for conciliation at the end of 2011 when bargaining was stalled as a result of the employer's unwillingness to move on key issues.
"A conciliation session is scheduled for February 21st, and we are hopeful that with this overwhelming strike vote, the Museum will get the message that our members are serious about service to the public and not prepared to accept concessions", said Max Joly, President of PSAC Local 70395 at the museum.
Members at the Museum of Nature will be in a legal strike position as of March 12.
The primary points of contention between workers and management are job security, contracting out and scheduling. The museum has always relied on a range of highly skilled and experienced workers to run its operations, but the Museum is now pushing for a contract that diminishes service to the public and leaves the door open to lay-offs of permanent workers and increased external contracting.
“This attempt by management to weaken the collective agreement and allow for increased privatization of museum work is part of a broader effort aimed at cutting public sector workers,” said Larry Rousseau, Regional Executive Vice-President for the PSAC. “We are committed to fighting back against any attempts by the Harper Conservatives to undermine the quality public services Canadians expect and deserve.”
Date Modified : 2012/02/20
