TORONTO – Staff at the Art Gallery of Ontario have voted by a margin of more than 95 per cent to strike if they cannot reach a fair contract settlement.

The 370 employees, represented by Local 535 of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union, include artists, assistant curators, designers, preparators, maintenance and technical staff, visitor services, educators, instructors, gift shop and restaurant staff.

They include 150 full-time and 220 part-time and occasional staff, who are highly skilled and committed to their jobs at the AGO. Contract talks broke down and the unionized employees have applied for conciliation.

After being without a contract since November 1998, staff at the AGO have become frustrated with the slow progress of contract negotiations. The main areas of disagreement involve wages, job security and cuts to existing benefits.

Gallery management has offered a zero per cent increase for three years effective from the date of ratification of a new contract. In reality, this would be a four-year wage freeze for staff who have not had an increase since December 1997. According to the most recent figures on the disclosure of public sector salaries over $100,000 some senior managers at the Gallery received increases in excess of 20 per cent.

Job security is another major concern. The Gallery is increasing its use of volunteers, students, interns and plans to contract out work that could be done by existing employees. "When people leave, retire or go on maternity leave, they aren't always replaced," said Lenny Fridman, president of OPSEU Local 535. "The Gallery is using volunteers with greater frequency, and now is reaching out to colleges and universities to find co-op students to do our work for lower wages. We respect students and volunteers, but they should support the work of the Gallery and its employees, not take it over."

Benefits are the third great divide as the Gallery wants to put restrictions and caps on its health care coverage for employees. "We’re not greedy. We just want to protect what we have already," said Fridman.

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For further information:

Katie FitzRandolph (OPSEU Communications) (416) 448-7440 or cell (416) 561-5651