The management of Granby Zoo has locked out 130 employees, who signed an unlimited strike mandate last week.
The workers were supposed to return to work on Monday after a strike lasting almost 10 days.
In a press release issued on Monday morning, the park’s management stated that the lockout “ensures stability for the well-being of the animals” and “ensures predictability for the managers who are currently covering for the striking employees.”
According to Granby Zoo President and CEO Paul Gosselin, the threat of an indefinite strike made it “impossible to operate the site effectively under the threat of service interruption at any time.”
Granby Zoo remains open despite the lockout. However, “it is possible that the strike will have a slight impact on the experience” of visitors, which is why the price of admission has been reduced from $59.99 to $39.99.
The Syndicat national des salariés de la société zoologique de Granby, affiliated to the CSN, announced last Friday that the option of an indefinite strike, to be called at the appropriate time, received support from 91 per cent of the members present at its general meeting.
The current negotiations affect 130 veterinary and animal care technicians, naturalist-interpreters, mechanics, carpenters and administrative staff.
Their collective agreements expired on Dec. 31.
The workers went on strike for the first time on July 9, before beginning a strike sequence on 20 July.
The walkout took place under a 10-day strike mandate adopted at the beginning of the month.
The union members are demanding greater job stability, balanced family, work and studies management and better staff attraction and retention.
For its part, Granby Zoo points out that it tabled a comprehensive offer on July 22 to the employees , and says it hopes to “quickly reach a mutually beneficial agreement for all parties concerned.”
–This report by La Presse Canadienne was translated by CityNews