News release

February 3, 2007

Members of the National Gallery say:
Negotiations are no Ball!

Ottawa- Equipped with scrolls and candles, the employees of the National Gallery of Canada in Ottawa will elegantly greet party-goers to an expensive Viennese Ball hosted by the Gallery…to protest the slow progress of their negotiations to renew their collective agreement. 

“Our members have shown considerable restraint and civility,” said PSAC National President John Gordon. ”Our negotiation team is working hard to move the process forward. Management representatives seem totally unaware of the seriousness and the number of issues that have not been addressed after five months of negotiation,” Gordon added.  

So far, only eight issues have been agreed upon. The Union believes that if negotiations continue at the slow pace imposed by the employer, a settlement is far away.  For Gordon, this cavalier attitude toward the bargaining process is the true measure of the employer’s will to reach a negotiated settlement with its employees.                

According to the President of PSAC National Gallery Local Anna-Maria De Angelis, the workers chose a very creative way to put pressure on the employer out of respect for their work and the institution.

“Our members are very proud of their work and they know how important their contribution is in making the National Gallery one of the most prestigious institutions in Canada” said De Angelis

De Angelis indicated that there are 19 important issues to resolve including securing health care benefits for all members and addressing long outstanding human rights issues.

The PSAC had to ask the federal government to appoint a conciliation officer for its negotiations with the National Gallery of Canada.

In recognition of the Ball's fund raising objective, the PSAC members at the protest are donating $1,000 to the Champions for Children Foundation, the principal benefiaciary of the Ball.

For information:
Alain Cossette, PSAC Communications (613) 293-9210 (cell)
Denis Boivin, PSAC Communications (613) 222-4617 (cell)