Arbitration to end strike offered
Museum labour dispute at 59 days and counting
OTTAWA — Federal Minister of Labour Rona Ambrose says she’s willing to appoint an arbitrator to resolve the 59-day strike at the museums of War and Civilization if union members and management agree.
“Our mediator has been working with the parties since before the strike began,” Ambrose said Tuesday in response to Question Period comments from Liberal Heritage critic Pablo Rodriguez that the government was doing little to resolve the strike.
“I stand ready to appoint an arbitrator,” Ambrose said, “but, unfortunately, at this time, neither of the parties agree to that.”
Ambrose’s statements came less than a week after the labour dispute eclipsed the duration of last winter’s 53-day OC Transpo strike.
John Gordon, National President of the Public Service Alliance of Canada, which represents the striking museum employees, said the union had not been approached about arbitration. He said a membership meeting would be held today to discuss Ambrose’s offer.
“We will advise the minister of our position on it tomorrow,” Gordon said, adding he could not anticipate how the union members would react.
A spokesperson for the Canadian Museum of Civilization Corporation, which operates the two museums, would not comment on either Ambrose’s offer or the negotiations.
