Negotiated settlement impossible - Museum workers reject final offer

GATINEAU, QC, Nov. 26 /CNW Telbec/ - Striking workers from the Museum of Civilization and War Museum voted overwhelmingly to reject a final offer from the Canadian Museum of Civilization Corporation this evening, at a membership meeting in Gatineau. Hundreds attended the meeting, voting to reject the offer by a margin of 96 per cent.

Negotiations between the Public Service Alliance of Canada and the CMCC broke down at 2:30 pm today, after the museum presented a final offer that did not provide the same protection against contracting-out currently in place for other museum and arts-related workers in the region.

"Clearly, even after 67 days on strike, the Canadian Museum of Civilization Corporation is not prepared to negotiate seriously or to resolve this dispute," said PSAC National President John Gordon .

PSAC advised the Minister of Labour after the vote that it believes that a negotiated settlement with the CCMC is impossible, and requested her direct intervention to resolve the dispute without further delay.

"I have written to Rona Ambrose , Minister of Labour, and have indicated to her that we support the appointment of a neutral third party to resolve this dispute through arbitration," said Gordon.

Last Wednesday, the striking members of PSAC voted to give their union a mandate to seek a fair settlement through binding arbitration. Shortly afterward, CMCC requested to resume negotiations with the union. Negotiations resumed at 9:30 on Friday morning and were suspended over the weekend, at the museum's request. The parties re-convened yesterday morning, but talks broke off again at 2:30 p.m. today.

"We tried in good faith to reach an agreement but unfortunately, the corporation has made it impossible for us to achieve a fair contract," said Daniel Poulin , President of PSAC Local 70396. "The corporation refuses to agree to the same protections that other federal employers have agreed to. Our members stand firm in our resolve to prevent the subcontracting of our jobs to the lowest bidder."

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