Media Advisory - Museum workers to march to Heritage Minister's office,
demands still unmet

GATINEAU, Oct. 26 /CNW Telbec/ - Striking workers from the Canadian Museum of Civilization and War Museum will march to Heritage Minister James Moore's office today at 11:00 a.m. , to demand that he use his influence to compel the museums' management to return to the bargaining table and agree to the same terms and conditions of employment found with other employers under the purview of the Ministry of Heritage.

Employees at the two museums have been on strike since September 21, 2009 . The 420 workers voted 92 per cent in favour of a strike at the end of August and talks first hit a standstill on September 18 . Negotiations resumed briefly on October 7 , but broke off after the Canadian Museum of Civilization Corporation refused to agree to protections against the contracting out of the workers' jobs. The workers are beginning their sixth week on the picket line.

The museum employees first marched to Moore's office on October 9 , delivering a letter urging Moore to "use the influence of your office to get our employer back to the bargaining table." Since then, Moore has indicated that he is not available to meet with them.

"(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," states the letter from the workers.

The museum workers will be joined at 12:00 pm by John Gordon , National President of PSAC, along with other members of the Alliance Executive Committee and representatives from the Canadian Labour Congress.

    
    WHAT:  March to Heritage Minister James Moore's office

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

    WHEN:  Today (Monday, October 26, 2009). Leaving from the Museum of
           Civilization and the War Museum at 11:00 a.m. Rally in front of
           James Moore's office at 12:00 p.m., with remarks from PSAC
           National President John Gordon.
    

For further information: Ariel Troster, PSAC Communications - [phone] (cell)