Striking museum workers occupy minister's office
Last Updated: Friday, November 6, 2009 | 2:36 PM ET
CBC News
Striking workers from the Museum of Civilization and the Canadian War Museum occupied a constituency office of Foreign Minister Lawrence Cannon in Buckingham, Que., Friday.
The workers are demanding that Cannon use his clout in cabinet to help put an end to their seven-week strike.
They say they will stay in the office until he agrees to speak out on their behalf. Union spokeswoman Ariel Troster said there are three workers and a union official in the office.
Cannon is the MP for the riding of Pontiac which covers a large area of western Quebec, including Buckingham at its eastern edge.
About 420 workers at the two museums have been on strike since Sept. 21, mainly over wages and job security.
They are asking Cannon and the Canadian government to tell the Canadian Museum of Civilization Corporation, which manages both museums, to return to the bargaining table and grant them a fair contract.
Their key demands are job security, protections against the subcontracting of their jobs and an end to what they say is perpetual contract status. The workers say they are seeking the same terms and conditions as other employees doing the same work at other federally funded museums and cultural institutions.
The Canadian Museum of Civilization Corporation said it has offered workers enhanced job security and a wage increase of about 15 per cent over four years.
Talks broke down Sept. 18 between the Crown corporation and the Public Service Alliance of Canada, which represents the curators, guides and other striking employees.
