Corporation refuses to agree to protections against contracting out of jobs

OTTAWA - Talks between the Public Service Alliance of Canada and the Museum of Civilization Corporation broke down last night, after the museum demanded that the workers withdraw their demands for protections against the contracting out of their jobs.

Workers at the Museum of Civilization and the War Museum have been on strike since September 21. The workers 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 this afternoon, but were unable to come to a settlement after the employer insisted that the workers withdraw a key demand for job security.

"During the proceedings the employer indicated that it was prepared to discuss the outstanding issues, but insisted first that our team withdraw its position on protections against the contracting out of jobs," said Daniel Poulin, President of PSAC Local 73096. "After several hours of discussion, the corporation made it clear that it wants the ability to contract out jobs and lay off employees at its discretion," he said.

"In the current economic climate, it's more important than ever for workers to have protections against losing their jobs to the lowest bidder," said Maria Fitzpatrick, Regional Executive Vice-President for the National Capital Region. "The Museum of Civilization Corporation is a well-funded Crown corporation that manages two of the most prestigious museums in the Ottawa/Gatineau region, if not all of Canada. Employers who really value their workers provide them with job security. This is essential to the museum workers - it means not contracting out their jobs."