Guides, hosts and other floor staff at the Canadian Museum of Civilization (above) and the Canadian Museum of War could walk off the job three weeks from now. (Rebecca Zandbergen/CBC)

Employees at the Canadian Museum of Civilization and the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa have voted 92 per cent in favour of striking if they can't reach a deal with their employer.

However, the results of Thursday's vote do not mean the 420 guides, hosts and other floor staff represented by the Public Service Alliance of Canada will be walking off the job "today or anytime soon," said Daniel Kinsella, the president of the union's national branch, Friday.

At the earliest, the strike could begin three weeks from now.

"During that 21 days, what we usually hope is that the employer will get the message that we're serious … and that they will get back to the table and really negotiate," Kinsella said.

The workers have been without a contract since April 1, and negotiations between the union and the Canadian Museum of Civilization Corp. recently broke down.

The union said it is seeking working conditions similar to those at other museums in Ottawa, and that job security is a major issue, as many workers go from contract to contract.

The Crown corporation that runs the museums has said the proportion of contract jobs fits with the needs of both the museums and the employees. It has also said that jobs vary among different museums, so it is unfair to compare them.