Museum strike not civilized

Mick — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 00:18:34 -0800

By Shawn Doyle

OTTAWA — The strike at the Museum of Civilization and War Museum has been dragging on since Sept. 21, and it's not getting any easier. Management at the museums "have hired a private film crew that is trying to catch us doing illegal stuff, but (it) has not succeeded," said Ralph Brassard, a striking tour guide with the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC). "They have hired scabs," he added.

PSAC Regional Executive Vice President Maria Fitzpatrick has confirmed the museums "have been using workers from the U.S. and international firms to replace the museum professionals that are on strike." Fitzpatrick says management is also using security firms to "harass" workers on strike, calling it "shameful that Canadians' tax dollars are best spent in this manner, rather than resolving the strike and allowing the museum workers to return to their jobs."