Museum cancels some Nov. 11 programs during strike
Pickets say they won't interfere with visitors during Veterans' Week
Last Updated: Thursday, November 5, 2009 | 11:55 AM ET
CBC News
The Canadian War Museum has cancelled its annual Remembrance Day guest speakers and school programs because of the workers strike, but is encouraging visitors to come out during Veterans' Week.
The museum will still have a series of free concerts during the special week, which begins Thursday and ends on Remembrance Day.
Also on Nov. 11, admission will be free, with live coverage in its screening rooms of Remembrance Day ceremonies at the War Memorial.
About 400 workers at the Museum of Civilization and at the War Museum have been on strike since Sept. 21, mainly over wages and job security.
Pickets have not been blocking visitors' access but have been handing out leaflets and pleading their case to anyone who'll stop and listen.
Thousands of veterans and other visitors are expected to go to the War Museum on Nov. 11.
John Moses, who normally works as a conservator at the museum, said visitors can expect a picket line, but he and other pickets will not cause problems for veterans and their families.
"We will continue to have the highly respectful approach that we've always taken, especially on the 11th with our veterans and serving Forces personnel," Moses said.
The War Museum's vice-president of public affairs, Chantal Schryer, said Wednesday that management asked for a written assurance from the union that pickets will not interfere with visitors.
Even though the union turned down that request, Schryer believes visitors should still come out on Remembrance Day.
"We know that it's important for all Canadians, as it is for our colleagues. So we're hoping … we know everything will go well," she said.
Corrections and Clarifications
- An earlier version of this story said there was an injunction in place against pickets blocking access to the War Museum. In fact, the injunction applies only to pickets outside the Museum of Civilization. Nov. 5, 2009 | 3:30 p.m. ET)
