(Credits: Art Gallery of Ontario)
After a period of industrial action lasting over a month, the Art Gallery of Ontario, in Toronto, is set to reopen its doors today. The reopening comes as a result of negotiations between striking workers and the museum’s management, who have been at odds since the widespread staff walkout on March 26th.
March saw over 400 workers at the art gallery participate in industrial action, walking out as a protest against low wages and poor working conditions. This period of industrial action brought one of North America’s largest art galleries to a grinding halt.
Organised by the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU/SEFPO), the workers were demanding pay raises in line with inflation, as well as increased protection for part-time workers. The strike came after a breakdown in talks between the union and museum management, following ten months of negotiations.
On April 25th, the union was able to reach some form of agreement with the museum bosses, bringing an end to this period of industrial action. As a part of the agreement, all museum employees – including curators, retail staff, cleaners and everything in-between – will receive a wage increase of 11.4%, backdated to December 2021, in order to combat the rising cost of living.
In addition to the wage increase, the agreement also sees various improvements in worker’s rights, and the establishment of a joint committee to reduce the amount of third-party contracting within the museum. This agreement came as a result of a tireless 16-hour negotiation, and has been ratified by union members. In fact, 85% of OPSEU members voted in favour of the agreement, thus bringing an end to the strikes.
In a statement following the agreement, OPSEU President Paul Ayers said, “The dedication of workers standing up together after years of deteriorating working conditions at the gallery was nothing short of inspiring,” adding, “The relationships workers forge with each other through strikes are a mosaic of victories. We’re facing tomorrow together, as a stronger union who knows the full-time and part-time fights are indivisible. And we’re not done here—this is only the beginning.”
This new contract is due to last until November of 2025, meaning that negotiations will likely resume closer to that time. For now, though, workers at the Art Gallery of Ontario are able to go back to work, spurred on by their newly established rights and wage increases.