(Montreal) A second day of strike action was launched Saturday morning by employees of the Granby Zoo, for an indefinite period. Negotiations are still not moving fast enough, according to employees represented by the Syndicat national des salariés de la Société zoologique de Granby (CSN), seasonal section.
The union represents some 130 employees, including veterinary and animal care technicians, naturalist interpreters, mechanics, carpenters and some of the zoo’s administrative staff.
A first day took place on July 9, after which negotiations resumed, without much success.
They are demanding for their new collective agreement – the old one expired on December 31 – working conditions in line with the concerns of 2024. That is to say, which allow in particular a better balance between work and family and less precariousness for employees. Even more so for temporary workers.
The union denounces, among other things, a certain number of constraints which were allegedly imposed by management as well as the use of subcontractors which jeopardizes the work of certain internal employees.
The CSN is also demanding that there be only two employee statuses: regular and part-time.
In a statement released Saturday morning, zoo management said it respects “the right of striking employees to express their concerns.” It said it is doing everything in its power to resolve the dispute quickly through a mutually beneficial agreement for all parties involved.
Despite this walkout, the zoo remains open and continues to welcome visitors.
Both the union and management have assured in separate statements that the welfare of the animals will not suffer from this strike, while the park remains open to visitors. It is some of the park’s activities that are suffering from the union movement, with suspensions.