Vancouver Art Gallery workers vote to ratify settlement agreement, ending labour action

By John Copsey National news anchor CKNW

Striking art gallery workers rally outside of the Vancouver Art Gallery on Saturday.

Gord Ditchburn / Twitter

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Striking workers at the Vancouver Art Gallery have voted in favour of a mediated settlement, effectively ending their week-long labour action.

In a statement to the media, CUPE 15 President Warren Williams says members “successfully fought back against a number of concessions, and won several key provisions that will improve the working conditions and compensation of Gallery workers today, and for years to come.”

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Workers walked off the job on February 5 over wages and scheduling rights.

The parties agreed through mediation to a four-year agreement that excludes the Gallery’s proposed concession on scheduling, provides retroactive wage increases of 1.5 percent in each of 2017 and 2018, and includes future wage adjustments of 1.75 percent in 2019 and 2.0 percent in 2020.

Williams says the cumulative effect of these wage increases will see Gallery workers’ paycheques increase by 4.75 percent in 2019, and a further 2 percent next year, with the Gallery agreeing to retroactivity for the 2017 and 2018 increases and removing their remaining concession.

The Vancouver Art Gallery employs just over 190 unionized workers.