Strike closes attractions, disappoints visitors
Sitting on the steps of the Montreal Science Centre, with a defeated look on his face, Bhavi Mehta was scanning a map of tourist attractions Friday, contemplating the next move for his family.
The resident of Jersey City was exploring the city on Friday with his wife, daughter, and another family, when they stumbled on the Science Centre. However, when they got to the door, a sign told them the centre is closed indefinitely, the result of a general strike.
“The kids were pretty excited about it,” Mehta said. “It’s disappointing, obviously.”
With tourism season getting underway, the Science Centre, Imax Telus Cinema, Port d’Escale marina and Clock Tower Beach closed down on Friday and will stay closed indefinitely, as 200 workers belonging to the Union of Employees of the Old Port of Montreal Corporation Inc. walked off the job. Among the workers are gardeners, educators, security workers and janitors, many of whom only work at the port during high season.
Shops and restaurants in the Old Port will remain open during the strike.
With Place Jacques Cartier swarming with visitors Friday afternoon, the union staged a loud protest in the middle of the square, demanding higher pay, with many workers wearing red T-shirts and white stickers with the word “Respect.” The corporation says the average salary of unionized employees is $17.09, but the union says about half of all its workers earn less than $15 per hour.
Amir Khadir, an MNA for Québec Solidaire, was at the protest to pledge his support for the workers. They also got support from a candidate for president of the U.S., albeit a relatively unknown one: Alyson Kennedy, the nominee for the Socialist Workers Party.
“We want a decent salary to have a decent life,” said Konrad Lamour, the president of the Old Port workers.
While Lamour claimed the starting salary for jobs at the corporation is $10.67, he acknowledged the lowest wage earners make more than $12 an hour. Lamour said the union is asking for a $15-per-hour starting salary, which is in line with a movement in the U.S. to increase the minimum wage to that level.
“We would like to see a decent living wage, which we are not getting,” Lamour said.
He added that this is a critical time for the corporation because it’s when tourist attractions tend to be most busy.
“This is going to hurt, because we’re entering the end of the school year; there’s lots of school trips, and then festival season begins,” Lamour said. “We want to find a solution. I think everyone wants to settle this and get back to business as usual.”
Sophie Morin, a spokesperson for the federal corporation that manages the port said she hopes the two sides get back to the negotiating table in the next few days.
The corporation says it is offering a 9.5-per-cent wage increase over four years and the establishment of a joint committee to evaluate the compensation with employees compared with workers in similar sectors elsewhere.
Details about the closed attractions will be posted on the website of the Old Port.