NAC box office employees could strike by end of week: union

By Dani-Elle Dubé

Members from the Operations and Ushers/Box Office groups at the National Arts Centre (NAC) are holding a strike vote this week.

According to an announcement from the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) released on Thursday, May 12, workers have been without a contract since 2018 and 2019, respectively.

PSAC adds that the bargaining teams have used all available means to get a fair deal, including declaring an impasse and going through a conciliation period.

“PSAC members at the NAC deserve a fair deal, they have been waiting long enough,” Alex Silas, PSAC regional executive vice-president for the National Capital Region, said in a statement. “This is about fairness and respect.”

Important issues like fair wage increases for both groups remain unresolved, PSAC says.

For the operations group, the employer “is refusing to address the outstanding issues that include seniority, leave, benefit for part-time employees, and market adjustments for positions that are paid less than comparable positions in the region.”

The Users and Box Office group are seeking to address issues related to job security and contracting out work, bilingual bonuses and the rehiring of part-time Box Office workers let go in the middle of the pandemic.

“The employer let go of Box Office workers during the pandemic but now, as the NAC is reopening, they are refusing to hire them,” Richard Ransom, local union president for both groups, said in a statement. “Instead, they are hiring new people without even considering those who have decades of experience. This is completely unacceptable.”

According to PSAC, the federal government gave $35.4 million to the NAC to address pandemic costs and help the NAC reopen.

Paying workers fairly and rehiring staff in their previous positions should be part of that plan.

The outcome of the strike vote will be announced once the voting period ends at the end of the weekend.

Top Stories

Top Stories

Most Watched Today