Some workers at Plimoth Plantation spent the Saturday before the historic attraction’s annual Thanksgiving celebrations protesting stalled contract negotiations with the site’s management by picketing on the sidewalk at the site’s Route 3A entrance.
Artisans, historical interpreters, and maintenance workers at the Plymouth “living history’’ museum say they are frustrated that they still don’t have a “fair contract’’ after nearly a year at the negotiating table.
Workers, who voted to unionize by a narrow margin last November, have said the popular historical re-creation has “dangerously low’’ staffing levels and that they face job insecurity, low wages, and potentially unsafe working conditions. They have accused management of “numerous anti-union tactics.’’
John Kemp, captain of Saturday’s picket, said about a dozen participants were at the site, including some former museum employees and supporters from other unions, and that the public response was positive.
“We had a lot of people honking their horns, giving us a thumbs up,’’ he said. “We feel there is a lot of strong support in the community.’’
Kate Moore, chairwoman of the union representing the workers, the Society of Allied Museum Professionals, said Saturday that the sticking points between labor and management include “just about everything,’’ and that negotiators for the museum have proposed “things that they know are repugnant to us and that they know we are not going to agree to.’’
“We believe that they’re stalling,’’ Moore said in a phone interview. “They’re repeatedly proposing things that they know we’re not going to agree to. For example, they are insisting that seasonal employees are hired only for the season and are terminated at the end of the season, and that has never been the policy.’’
Kate Sheehan, a spokeswoman for Plimoth Plantation, said its hiring policies are dictated by the nature of its work.
“We are a seasonal operation and make decisions based on our needs for each upcoming season,’’ she said.
“Management continues to bargain in good faith, as we have done, and it takes good faith on both sides, the union included, to reach agreement,’’ Sheehan said. “We remain focused, at this special time of year, on our guests.’’
Moore, the union chairwoman, said workers hope to bring more attention to the situation through their picketing, and through support from Massachusetts’ two statewide teachers’ unions — the Massachusetts Teachers Association and the American Federation of Teachers Massachusetts — as well as the Boston Teachers Union.
Many of Plimoth Plantation’s visitors are school groups led by teachers, Moore said.
“We’re hoping that by setting a little bit of light on this, it’s going to encourage them to bargain a little more quickly,’’ she said.
Picketing was scheduled to continue at the museum from noon to 3 p.m. Sunday.
Jeremy C. Fox can be reached at jeremy.fox@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @jeremycfox.
