Media Advisory - Museum workers to march to Heritage Minister's office to
demand a fair contract

GATINEAU, ON, Oct. 8 /CNW Telbec/ - Striking workers from the Canadian Museum of Civilization and War Museum will march to Heritage Minister James Moore's office tomorrow at 10:30 a.m. , to deliver a letter demanding that he use his influence to compel the museums' management to return to the bargaining table.

Talks between the Public Service Alliance of Canada and the Museum of Civilization Corporation (CMCC) broke down yesterday evening, after the museum demanded that the workers withdraw their demands for protections against the contracting out of their jobs.

The workers have been on strike since September 21 . They voted 92 per cent in favour of a strike at the end of August and talks first hit a standstill on September 18 . The parties re-convened in the office of a Federal Mediator yesterday, but were unable to come to a settlement after the employer insisted that the workers withdraw a key demand for job security.

"We urge you to use the influence of your office to get our employer back to the bargaining table," states the letter from workers. "(We want the CMCC) to agree to implement the same terms and conditions of employment as other federal cultural workers in the National Capital Region, so that we might get back to doing the important work of preserving Canada's history and heritage."

    
    WHAT:        March to Heritage Minister James Moore's office

    WHERE:       Leaving from the Museum of Civilization, marching to
                 Heritage Canada at Place de la Chaudières, 15 Eddy Street in
                 Gatineau, then continuing on to the War Museum.

    WHEN:        Friday, October 9, 2009. Leaving from the Museum of
                 Civilization at 10:30 a.m.
    

For further information: Alain Cossette, PSAC Communications, [phone] (cell)