The Red Shoes
Footwear staves off blues for picketers
A row of red shoes marches out around from the tank in front of the war museum on Sussex Drive all the way to the road leading up to Nepean Point. Shoes of every description are included - loafers, sling backs, running shoes, pumps, Oxfords, all of them spray painted the same shade of bullet-proof red.
It's the latest in a series of creative acts by striking workers of PSAC Local 70397 at the National Gallery of Canada (NGC) and Canadian Museum of Contemporary Photography (CMCP). It is the first strike ever to hit the NGC.
"They're symbolic of the number of miles we've walked on the picket line," says Jim Prowse, president of Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) Local 70397 and a member of the bargaining team of the red shoes. "It's (also) a symbol of the huge debt that the current director has rung up."
The red shoes' action began as strikers' response to the injunction limiting picketing activity served last Friday May 18.
"We've been accused through the injunction of being aggressive and violent, blocking cars and tucks. This is to reinforce the fact that that is not true," Prowse adds.
The individuality and personal nature of the shoes and the act of painting them all red—a colour symbolic of passion (and, in some cultures, anger)—emphasizes the group's unity, according to the idea's originator.
Inspired by artist Gathie Falk's "18 PAIRS OF RED SHOES", an installation from the NGC's permanent collection, the work continues to grow.
On strike since May 10th are employees working in areas like education, conservation, exhibitions, publications, communications, visitors' services, design, protection services, technical services, and information technology.
"There's even been a threat to sue some employees for a million dollars," Prowse says. "It was retracted temporarily by their lawyer. It's all totally unwarranted given that nobody's been injured and nobody's been stopped." Along with Prowse, a number of picket captains were named in the suit.
Under the injunction, only four people can picket the NGC's parking garage entrance, Prowse explains, and the main picket line has been removed from the NGC's plaza. At CMCP picketers have to be about five meters from the main entrance.
The dispute involves the well-worn themes of labour disputes involving federal civil servants—money and respect. After negotiations broke down early this spring, the NGC's offer continues to be below the regional inflation rate and annual increases negotiated by similar workers at other federal museums in the Capital.
"Two to 2.75% over 5 years - that was their last offer," says Prowse. "It's too bad that they don't want to come back to the table. They've said ...three times - this is their final offer, all the while giving their managers 3-10% bonuses. It's all about how you cut the pie."
"I think that the problem is that the current director has run up a huge debt like he did in Montreal (at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts)," Prowse suggests, referring to NGC's beleaguered director, Pierre Theberge. "He's trying to get away with that on the backs of the workers. Shirley Thompson (the NGC's former director) always ensured there was no debt. During times of cutbacks, she even struck employee committees to work out solutions."
Mr. Theberge was not available to comment.
As strike pay, employees receive $35 tax-free a day. Prowse referred to one member who has to pay a baby-sitter $30 a day and so goes home with $5 in her pocket.
But the growing support has bolstered strikers' morale. "A lot of people have actually turned around," says Prowse, even "people from out of town. Some even offered donations. One woman, a local art historian, wrote us a cheque for $600 and suggested we improve our signage." Other PSAC locals and unions are also showing their support, financially and otherwise.
Ultimately, Prowse believes the NGC is risking the institution's reputation as well as the latest so-called "blockbuster" Gustave Klimt show, scheduled to open next month. "The gallery has an international and national mandate—we've just sent a bunch of works by the Group of 7 to China." The strike means that everything from loans to staff participation in events and exchanges is postponed, done haphazardly or cancelled outright. Works that for instance should be restored before being loaned out, may not have been restored and therefore may be subject to damage, Prowse suggested.
"It's difficult to say whether it's all coming from the director (Pierre Theberge) or not," says Prowse. "Ultimately he's the one that's responsible, especially for negotiating with 200 of his employees. I would say it's this stand-offish ignorance or complacency—he really doesn't care. He feels he's given a mandate to Lavell (the NGC's Deputy Director) and he's willing to let him deal with it however he sees fit."
"It is ...tarnishing our (the NGC's) reputation... to risk that and to risk the good relationship (with management) - we find it very sad. It's going to embitter the workplace for years to come."
Donations of shoes, red or otherwise, time, money and other support continue to be welcome.
Published in The Ottawa Xpress
It's the latest in a series of creative acts by striking workers of PSAC Local 70397 at the National Gallery of Canada (NGC) and Canadian Museum of Contemporary Photography (CMCP). It is the first strike ever to hit the NGC.
"They're symbolic of the number of miles we've walked on the picket line," says Jim Prowse, president of Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) Local 70397 and a member of the bargaining team of the red shoes. "It's (also) a symbol of the huge debt that the current director has rung up."
The red shoes' action began as strikers' response to the injunction limiting picketing activity served last Friday May 18.
"We've been accused through the injunction of being aggressive and violent, blocking cars and tucks. This is to reinforce the fact that that is not true," Prowse adds.
The individuality and personal nature of the shoes and the act of painting them all red—a colour symbolic of passion (and, in some cultures, anger)—emphasizes the group's unity, according to the idea's originator.
Inspired by artist Gathie Falk's "18 PAIRS OF RED SHOES", an installation from the NGC's permanent collection, the work continues to grow.
On strike since May 10th are employees working in areas like education, conservation, exhibitions, publications, communications, visitors' services, design, protection services, technical services, and information technology.
"There's even been a threat to sue some employees for a million dollars," Prowse says. "It was retracted temporarily by their lawyer. It's all totally unwarranted given that nobody's been injured and nobody's been stopped." Along with Prowse, a number of picket captains were named in the suit.
Under the injunction, only four people can picket the NGC's parking garage entrance, Prowse explains, and the main picket line has been removed from the NGC's plaza. At CMCP picketers have to be about five meters from the main entrance.
The dispute involves the well-worn themes of labour disputes involving federal civil servants—money and respect. After negotiations broke down early this spring, the NGC's offer continues to be below the regional inflation rate and annual increases negotiated by similar workers at other federal museums in the Capital.
"Two to 2.75% over 5 years - that was their last offer," says Prowse. "It's too bad that they don't want to come back to the table. They've said ...three times - this is their final offer, all the while giving their managers 3-10% bonuses. It's all about how you cut the pie."
"I think that the problem is that the current director has run up a huge debt like he did in Montreal (at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts)," Prowse suggests, referring to NGC's beleaguered director, Pierre Theberge. "He's trying to get away with that on the backs of the workers. Shirley Thompson (the NGC's former director) always ensured there was no debt. During times of cutbacks, she even struck employee committees to work out solutions."
Mr. Theberge was not available to comment.
As strike pay, employees receive $35 tax-free a day. Prowse referred to one member who has to pay a baby-sitter $30 a day and so goes home with $5 in her pocket.
But the growing support has bolstered strikers' morale. "A lot of people have actually turned around," says Prowse, even "people from out of town. Some even offered donations. One woman, a local art historian, wrote us a cheque for $600 and suggested we improve our signage." Other PSAC locals and unions are also showing their support, financially and otherwise.
Ultimately, Prowse believes the NGC is risking the institution's reputation as well as the latest so-called "blockbuster" Gustave Klimt show, scheduled to open next month. "The gallery has an international and national mandate—we've just sent a bunch of works by the Group of 7 to China." The strike means that everything from loans to staff participation in events and exchanges is postponed, done haphazardly or cancelled outright. Works that for instance should be restored before being loaned out, may not have been restored and therefore may be subject to damage, Prowse suggested.
"It's difficult to say whether it's all coming from the director (Pierre Theberge) or not," says Prowse. "Ultimately he's the one that's responsible, especially for negotiating with 200 of his employees. I would say it's this stand-offish ignorance or complacency—he really doesn't care. He feels he's given a mandate to Lavell (the NGC's Deputy Director) and he's willing to let him deal with it however he sees fit."
"It is ...tarnishing our (the NGC's) reputation... to risk that and to risk the good relationship (with management) - we find it very sad. It's going to embitter the workplace for years to come."
Donations of shoes, red or otherwise, time, money and other support continue to be welcome.
Published in The Ottawa Xpress