CANADIAN LABOUR-OTTAWA:

SOLIDARITY WITH MUSEUM WORKERS IN OTTAWA:

Molly has mentioned the ongoing strike of workers at the Canadian museum of Civilization and the Canadian War Museum, both in Ottawa, previously. There is a very good appeal for solidarity with these workers over at another friendly Winnipeg ( the absolute centre of the universe, let alone the 'heart of the continent') site, the Winnipeg Wobbly Blog, and Molly urges her readers to drop on over, read it and respond to the appeal. The union for the workers involved is the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC). Here, however, is another story from the PSAC website, of how management of the museums are attempting to censor free speech ie unspecified "content" be removed from the PSAC strike support blog. It's an interesting campaign on the part of management as the use of lawyers as weapon should resemble more the intelligent use of a surgical scalpel rather than a shotgun aimed blindly. Whether you agree with the demands of the union or not you should be alert to such attempts to "Americanize" our legal system (as if it isn't weighted enough in favour of the ruling class already) and use it as a weapon of intimidation. Here's the story.

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Union vows to fight online censorship:
Ottawa – The Canadian Museum of Civilization Corporation is attempting to censor photos and comments posted to a Facebook page set up to support the 420 workers who are currently on strike at the Museum of Civilization and War Museum.

In a letter on October 28, lawyers acting on behalf of the corporation demanded that content that they deemed to be defamatory be removed from the Facebook group, “Fairness and Justice for Museum Workers”. They did not specify what they considered to be offensive and the Public Service Alliance of Canada has determined that none of the content on the page is objectionable.

The union, which represents the striking workers, has vowed to fight any attempts to remove content from the Facebook group or to curtail the workers' freedom of expression.

The museum workers are now entering their seventh week on the picket line. Employees at the two museums have been on strike since September 21, 2009. The 420 workers voted 92 per cent in favour of a strike at the end of August and talks first hit a standstill on September 18.

Negotiations resumed briefly on October 7, but broke off after the Canadian Museum of Civilization Corporation refused to agree to protections against the contracting out of the workers' jobs.

“CMCC's attempts at censorship are acts of desperation,” said Maria Fitzpatrick, PSAC Regional Executive Vice-President for the National Capital Region. “We are appalled that a Crown Corporation is spending taxpayers' money to attempt to intimidate workers into silence, rather than getting back to the bargaining table to negotiate a fair settlement.”

For more information or to book interviews:Ariel Troster, PSAC Communications, 613-292-8363 (cell)

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Before Molly signs out for the night here's another notice about this strike, also from the PSAC website. Tomorrow the workers involved will be taking their case to Parliament Hill in a demonstration for their rights. If you live in the Ottawa area consider showing up in solidarity.

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After six weeks on the picket line, museum workers take their message to the Hill:

– After more than six weeks on the picket line, 420 striking workers from the Canadian Museum of Civilization and War Museum will be taking their message to Parliament Hill tomorrow at noon.

They are asking the Canadian government to tell the Canadian Museum of Civilization Corporation to return to the bargaining table and grant them a fair contract. Their key demands are job security, protections against the subcontracting of their jobs and an end to perpetual contract status. The workers are seeking the same terms and conditions as other employees doing the same work at other federally-funded museums and cultural institutions.

Employees at the two museums have been on strike since September 21, 2009. The 420 workers voted 92 per cent in favour of a strike at the end of August and talks first hit a standstill on September 18. Negotiations resumed briefly on October 7, but broke off after the Canadian Museum of Civilization Corporation refused to agree to protections against the contracting out of the workers' jobs.

The workers have been picketing daily in front of the office of James Moore, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages. Now they will take their message to all Members of Parliament, hoping for a fair end to their labour dispute as soon as possible.

WHAT:

Demonstration by striking museum workers and supporters, with words of support from:
Gilles Duceppe, leader of the Bloc Québécois
Jack Layton, leader of the New Democratic Party
Richard Nadeau, Bloc MP for Gatineau
Paul Dewar, NDP MP for Ottawa Centre

( Well, I don't know about the presence of all the politicos selling their own trade marked brands of smelly running shoes, but until we anarchists eventually can offer a realistic alternative I can see the point of the union is giving place to the snake oil salesmen. Til that great millennium... )
WHERE:

Parliament Hill
WHEN:

Thursday, November 5, 2009, 12:00 p.m.
For more information or to book interviews:Ariel Troster, PSAC Communications 613-292-8363 (cell)