(Ottawa)—Workers at the National Arts Centre (NAC) in Ottawa have voted overwhelmingly to strike in response to the NAC management’s unwillingness to resolve longstanding concerns.
The 70 workers are unionized with the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) and provide maintenance, cleaning, security and parking services at the NAC. They have been attempting to reach a fair contract with the NAC since December 2011.
“We truly enjoy serving the thousands of people who come to the NAC to experience great art,” said Richard Ransom, President of PSAC Local 70291 at the NAC. “ But we took this vote because NAC management left us with no other choice. With this vote, we are sending a clear signal that after bargaining in good faith for more than two and a half years, we expect that our concerns be taken seriously and resolved.”
NAC management continually insists that the organization does not have the financial resources to provide its workers with a fair compensation package, yet did not have any trouble finding money to unnecessarily develop a new logo earlier this year.
“It’s unfortunate that NAC management has spent the last 30 months saying no to its own workers,” said Larry Rousseau, PSAC Regional Executive Vice President for the National Capital Region. “PSAC is committed to negotiating a fair contract for our members and we hope that the NAC’s management will return to the table with a fair offer sooner rather than later.”
The strike vote was held on 5 September 2014.
For media inquiries, please contact Alroy Fonseca: FonsecA@psac.com.
For other inquiries, please contact Nairra Tariq: TariqN@psac.com.