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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm 8pt;line-height:107%;font-size:11pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Hello,<span></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm 8pt;line-height:107%;font-size:11pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">I just wanted to draw everyone’s attention to the strike
currently taking place at the Art Gallery of Ontario. 400+ employees of the
gallery have been on strike since late March. <span></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm 8pt;line-height:107%;font-size:11pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">The strike was covered by several news sites when it started
but coverage has quickly dropped. A few employees have spoken out on social
media expressing frustration that the CEO earns $400 000 before bonuses while
many staff need to use food banks, that the recently announced $100 million expansion
will not come with additional staff, the loss of the First Nations curatorial
department, and the quiet removal of a gender-neutral washrooms. <span> </span><span></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm 8pt;line-height:107%;font-size:11pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">OPSEU SEFPO Local 535, the union that is striking, does have
a website: <a href="https://opseu.org/nodealnoago/#newmode-embed-1613-65290">https://opseu.org/nodealnoago/#newmode-embed-1613-65290</a><span></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm 8pt;line-height:107%;font-size:11pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">What happens at large institutions like the Art Gallery of
Ontario impacts the entire arts and culture industry in Canada, so I thought it
was important to bring this strike to everyone’s attention.<span></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm 8pt;line-height:107%;font-size:11pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Further reading:<span></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm 8pt;line-height:107%;font-size:11pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">“Hundreds of AGO workers on picket line Tuesday as strike
begins” CBC News. Mar 26, 2024. <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/hundreds-of-ago-workers-on-picket-line-tuesday-as-strike-begins-1.7155877" style="color:rgb(5,99,193);text-decoration:underline">https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/hundreds-of-ago-workers-on-picket-line-tuesday-as-strike-begins-1.7155877</a><span></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm 8pt;line-height:107%;font-size:11pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">“Hundreds of AGO workers go on strike, hit the picket lines”
Global News. March 26^th 2024. <a href="https://globalnews.ca/news/10384244/art-gallery-of-ontario-strike-toronto/">https://globalnews.ca/news/10384244/art-gallery-of-ontario-strike-toronto/</a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm 8pt;line-height:107%;font-size:11pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><br></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm 8pt;line-height:107%;font-size:11pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Thanks,</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm 8pt;line-height:107%;font-size:11pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><br></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm 8pt;line-height:107%;font-size:11pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Carolyn Ben (she/her)<br></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm 8pt;line-height:107%;font-size:11pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><span></span></p>





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