"y Lo Castlégar News January 25, 1989 -Teachers' talks drag VANCOUVER (CP) — It's no surprise contract talks between teachers and 73 British Columbia school districts are dragging because, officials say, both sides are newly enrolled in the school of labor relations, For the first” time, the “province's. 26,000 unionized teachers are negotiating all aspects of their employment under the 1987 Teaching Professions Act, which also put the strike into their arsenal, Local school boards, unaccustomed to bargain- ing face-to-face after years of provincially imposed wage settlements, now must negotiate everything from wages to basic working conditions. “There is a lot of learning to do about the labor relations system,"’ Alan Akehurst, manager of labor relations services for the B.C. School Trustees’ Association, said. Matters that were once school board policy or part of the old School Act, such as teacher evaluations, now have to be negotiated, said Elsie McMurphy, president of the B.C. Teachers’ Federa tion “We had to put everything on the table,"’ she said. ‘‘Some locals tabled.more than 100 items."" Teacher contracts expired at the end of last June, but as of Tuesday only 20 new settlements had been ratified and seven tentative agreements were waiting to be voted on. TWO STRIKES Strikes in the Prince George and Terrace school districts in central and northern British Colum! kept about 24,000 students out of school. Talks in Prince George resumed Tuesday, a day after the 1,000 te ers walked out Teachers in several, other districts, including Vancouver, the _ province's largest with 51,000 students, have voted to strike. A couple have issued strike notices The latest settlements included a ratifications Tuesday between the Vernon school district and its 800 teachers, affecting 8,000 students, and the Cowichan Valley, on Vancouver Island, where 400 teachers had been on strike since Jan. 16. Castlegar teachers were scheduled to vote today on a tenative contract The old act banned teachers from striking and allowed: negotiations only on wages., It set a time limit for reaching a new contract, otherwise the dispute automatically went to binding arbitration. Under the new law, teachers form local unions and bargain directly with boards. The federation has been reduced to an advisory role, staging conferences on bargaining issues and supplying guidance on strategy. The trustees’ association is playing the same role on the other side of the table, said Akehurst But the pace is quickening as the number of settlements increases, said Akehurst. ‘‘It's one district at a time, but I think the momentum “is there."* SUPER SALE Higher rates could scare home buyers OTTAWA (CP) — Mortgage rates could climb to 13 per cent by summer and that could create jitters among first-time home-buyers and people facing mortgage renewals, says the Royal Bank of Canada’s mortgage services manager “We're at a psychological fimit now,'’ Peter Morrison said. ‘If mortgage rates hit 13 per cent, it will scare a lot of people. “Anybody who is getting out shopping for a new home now may not even be able to get into the market.’ John Clinkard, a ior economist with the Imperial Bank of Commerce, agrees that rates are headed toward 13 per cent and says that’s the point where consumer resistance sets in. Those at the greatest risk, Morrison added, are people who took out a mortgage and assumed that when it came up for renewal, their income would have increased enough to cover higher costs or that some other financial factors would give them a cushion “‘If that salary increase or cushion hasn't material. ized, they are going to be facing problems.”’ RATES RISE Last week, the Commerce boosted its short-term mortgage rates by a quarter of a percentage point Rates for six-month open mortgages and for one- and two-year terms rose to 12.25 per cent. Mortgages for three, four and five years remained at 12.25 per cent and a one-year open mortgage at 12.50 per cent And the Bank of Nova Scotia raised its ratefor one-year mortgages by a quarter of a percentage point to 12.25 per cent Morrison said the Royal thinks rates for longer term mortgages have stabilized and won't see sharp increases in the next five months. Short-term rates will escalate but begin to fall sometime next winter. ‘‘A year from now, we could be back down under 12 per cent for short-term mortgages.”* Short-term rates are being driven up, hé explained, simply by high consumer demand for mortgage money Both men said Canada’s mortgage business was strong in November and December, up 34 per cent. to $1.1 billion compared to the same period a year earlicr Clinkard thinks the higher rates may slow demand for housing in the first half of the year. People thinking about buying their first home, he said, ‘‘have to ask themselves. whether they expect home prices-to moderate, and I think most people do. MARKET VARIES He said home-buyers and sellers recognize that the housing market in many parts of the country won't be as Strong as it was. That, combined with expectations of generally slower economic growth, could take some of the, upward pressure off mortgage rates later in the year. Dana Boyko, a senior economist with Royal Trust said one of the positive influences is that the funding sources for mortgages fiave improved since last October's stock market crash “There has been. strong interest in, for example g their money out of the equity market. That's'a source of mortgage money and we expect’ the trend to continue throughout this year."” ‘anteed investment certificates as people moved Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. reported Tuesday that the residential mortgage market grew last yer by about 18 per cent to $141 billion as of the end of October This year, the federal agency said, major. lenders could record lower growth of 15 per cent to 17 per cent in fesidential mortgages Housing resales are forecast to drop slightly to 7 > 281,307 units housing ,starts will likely reach 191,425 units, down\from an estimated 206,925 last Jonvary 25, 1989 A mos CASTLEGAR SAFEWAY Head Lettuce California No. 1 Grade California Celery $1.08 is. Large Eggs Grade A. Lucerne. Bio-degradeable Carton of 12 California Carrots $1.08 rs. es a bd Ib. ea. Bible can still be read — TROPICALS 1.49 Reg. $1.99, now... 2.6... e VANCOUVER (CP) — British Col- appeal the ruling Monday by Mr. spokesman John Dixon. “He should ‘ F h $ umbia teachers can keep reading the Justice A.A. Hollinrake obey the law.” 0 Fresh : res * Bible in public school classes even “As a result of that decision, and Brummet is ‘‘encouraging indi- ca s * 6". Reg. $6.95, now ......... 4.95 Fhough the B.C Supreme Court says the fact the Ontario Cougt of Appeal vidual teachers % bring thelr awe Cod or Snapper ; enforced Bible readings are uncon- — also. interpreting identical legisl- religious convictions to the class bed ‘ = 5 2 MinisterFony—ation_using the Charter of Rights ——room,** Dixon said; and that-viotates ee ic en Fillets Fillets el: Brummet said struck down the safe passage.itis a section of the School Act which Lean. Approx. 10 Ib. pkgs. Limit 1 pkg. Weather permitting. B.C. Whole. Utility Grade. Frozen. Limit 4 with min. $25.00 family purchase. with min. $25.00 family purchase. 5 Attorney General Bud Smith said highly unlikely that we'll be apr earlier the government is unlikely to ing the decision,"’ Smith said states that ‘‘no religious dogma or creed shall be taught 2'4-2°%% Ib. average weight before cooking. TROPICALS = % ai ai og % Reduced by 30 OFF 13/1009. A section of the School Act — first. Ed Richmond, ‘ah élementary $ $ 7 written in 1876 — required Bible school principal in Abbotsford in the ai kg. 1.96% ‘ Hanging Basket AllDry . ~ youre readings and recitation fo the Lord’s Fraser Valley east of Vancouver 9 “ $@99 Flower YEAR'S Prayer to start the school day in said he expects many of-his-teachers 8 Arrangements RESOLUTION: | Public schools will continue with religious exercises Lace weight Hollinrake said the section violated at the start of each school day EotHealthier | the charter, which guarantees free POTTING CHANG’S NURSERY & FLORIST LTD = Save Money | dom of religion We've got 16 classroom teachers . soi Se eon or) | onenman.ti.temtem 2601-9hAve.,Castleger . CAURAWALUAME ° Bits “The School Act says it’s manda- and I'd say at least a dozen of them ao = PACK SERDS AVAILABL Sagem Service ‘ he jud . fi read a passage from the Bible each PACK SEEDS AVAILABLE Closed Sundays 365-7312 Feet 4 ‘: tory, the judge says it’s wrong for it read a passag je each a ae Phone: 365-7616 to be mandatory,”’ Brummet said. “I day.” he said. “My guess is that somal ome mentee don't think he (Hollinrake) has said most will continue with these open Ib seyihing anes gegen af caer” ing ermcics . ea. Ib. Ib So teachers still have the right to Until Hollinrake’ S@etision, British . read the Bible in class, he said Columbia and Manitoba were the : The B.C. Civil Liberties Associa- only provinces that. enforced man tion, whic filed the court action on datory religious exercises in public behalf of two parents, accused Bru- , school classrooms. — Bake Shop — — Bake Shop — — Bake Shop — — Bake Shop — mmet of ignoring the spirit of The Manitoba Association for Hollinrake’s ruling. + Rights and Liberties has said it plans © “He's skating perilously close to. @ ccuri action against the faw in its Bread Bread rusty Rolls Muffins cntempt of the judgment."’ said province Fresh Chelsea. 450 g. each Stoneground Whole Wheat or Fresh Bran ime or Autumn Grain. Baker's Dozen. 13. 450 g loaf. Each The following are winning num- National Football League champion = = 2 oe a i Ee oa be am bers in weekend lotteries. ship game Sunday ,between Cincin . 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