Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO) workers ratify new collective agreement

TORONTO, May 27 /CNW/ - In a vote held on Thursday, May 27, 2010, employees at the Art Gallery of Ontario voted to ratify a new two-year collective agreement after bargaining brought them to the brink of a strike.

With tougher language on job security, lay-offs and full-time work, the new collective agreement addresses the key issues brought to the bargaining table.

Part-time employees who were previously capped at 24 hours per week will now be able to work up to 35 hours per week, depending on their seniority and availability, allowing them to earn a more livable wage.

There is language in the agreement, which prevents the carving up of full-time jobs into part-time work. Another key gain at the table is that employees who work 1456 hours in a year must now be offered full-time status.

OPSEU currently represents 177 full-time staff and 266 part-time staff at the AGO.

For further information: Paula Whitmore, [phone]; Emily Visser, [phone]