Saturday, October 31, 1992 =

BUSTED

Bankruptcies in
Canada
skyrocketed in
September.
Consumer and
Corporate Affairs
indicate there
was a 17 per
cent increase in
personal and
business
bankruptcies
compared to
August. Ontario
suffered the
worst total of
bankruptcies at
2,631, while B.C.
was fourth with
474.

UIC GOES
UP

Statistics
Canada reports
Unemployment
Insurance
payments
reached $1.4
billion for August.
For the first eight
months of the
year, the
government has
shelled out $13.5
billion for
unemployed
people. The
August figures
are 13 per cent
higher than for
the same month
last year, witha
1.2 per cent
increase in the
number of
people collecting
Ul.

LAYOFFS
WITH A

PLEDGE

Suncor Inc. in
Fort McMurray,
Alta., will be
axing 400 jobs
over the next
month-and-a-
half. At the same
time, the
company has
promised to stay
in business in the
area for another
50 years.

WorkRPLACE

Union question prompts confrontation

Neil Rachynski
NEWS STAFF

The topic is such a tinderbox, many
people don’t even want to talk about it.

There is a fierce debate raging over
contractors hiring union or non-union
workers. In fact, it’s so controversial many
people declined to express their views on
the record, and even cancelled interviews
for fear of retribution.

The violent flare it ignites can be
witnessed in our own backyards. On Sept.
17, police were called out to the
construction site of the Castlegar Savings
and Credit Union. Four members of the
United Brotherhood of Carpenters and
Joiners of America Local 2300 were
lobbying non-union workers on the site to
join the union. The ensuing encounter has
the union requesting that charges of
assault be laid.

But there were two long-time adversaries
who were more than willing to talk
candidly about their differences.

Bill Berg, owner of William Berg
Construction Ltd., has long advocated the
right to hire non-union workers.

“I’m not anti-union,” Berg said. “They do
have their place, (but) as a contractor and
as an entrepreneur, I’ve lost control.

“I’ve created this project and now I’ve
lost control.”

Local 2300’s business representative says
it’s that kind of control contractors like
Berg abuse.

“As the economy goes down and
unemployment rears its ugly head, the
Bergs of this world come along and these
guys have to work,” Len Embree said.

“So they bid five or 10 per cent under,
pays his workers 50 per cent less and
pockets the difference.”

Berg’s response is that the work for non-
unionists is more steady.

“Our guys... don’t get paid as much but

they work more often;” Berg said.

“Unions are in the dark ages. It’s the
employees versus the contractors,” Berg
said. “There’s a lack of teamwork between
contractor and employee.

“The biggest faults with the union is the
job description,” Berg said. “Carpenters
can’t pick up a shovel. One guy can hammer
in a nail but he can’t take it out.”

“That’s infantile nonsense. That’s not
true,” Embree said. “If that’s the level of his
disagreement with unions, I mean my God,
he’s a dinosaur.

“The main cause of confrontation
historically is jurisdiction, and that’s our
own doing,” Embree said. “We had no other
process to resolve jurisdictional issues,
other than just saying ‘oh forget it ’'m going
home.”

Embree said with the implementation of
a jurisdictional plan, an umpire can make
binding decisions to

“I think there’s room for organized labor
of some sort to work with management to
establish a fair-wage rate to coincide with
the economy,” Berg said.

Union arguments questioning the quality
of work on local non-union projects also
continues to rage on.

Embree claims the quality of work on the
Castlegar Savings Credit Union building is
substandard, while the union-built Bank of
Montreal is quality craftsmanship.

It’s grievances like that which spark the
flame.

“The Bank of Montreal knew what they
were doing,” Embree said. “The Castlegar
Credit Union didn’t and you’ve been around
that issue.”

With a fundamental difference of
opinions, the two sides appear content to
remain polar opposites — hoping one will
warm up to the other’s point of view.

settle an issue.
Embree said,
“there hasn’t been a
jurisdictional shut
down in the province
I can think of in the
last 10 years. That’s
a weak argument.
It’s a red herring.
“The big difference
is ideological”
Embree said. “The
non-union
(contractors)... feel
they have the right
to make as much as
they can while
paying the worker as
little as they can”
Berg said he

News photo by Corinne Jackson

thinks it’s possible The Castlegar Savings and Credit Union is a symbol of what non-union
for both sides to contractors say is their right, and what unionists say is wrong with the

negotiate fair wages. trade.

Is aso

Is there an independence
trend happening at city
council?

Over the summer it seems to
me that our elected officials are
taking some bolder positions.
And it seems they are doing so
without consulting their
counterparts.

Coun. Jim Chapman has
made no bones about the fact
he thinks the present city hall
is a piece of junk.

“It should be torn down and
built in the same spot or in a
new location,” he has earlier
said. “If there’s a market for it,
sell it.”

Definitely not in line with
council’s current mind set.

Nei/RACHYNSKI

education system and that the
province should be responsible
for hiring superintendents.
Trustees for School District
No. 9 were not impressed.
Chernoff took a step back
and put his support behind the
school board. He’s even said the
recommendations in the city’s

that

=
4 el

Bottom
Line

made public.

former Coun.

examined just how
efficient the city’s operations
were. The report failed the city
in areas of honesty and respect.
But how did the report
—_ ultimately surface? Through a
motion by Coun. Kirk Duff.
The Duff had nothing to lose by
releasing the report because he
wasn’t on council at the time.
But it takes guts to stand up in
front of the rest of council,
asking that such a report be

* Even Coun. Doreen Smecher
took a stand at the press
conference for the
Waterhouse report.

Mathieson said the process of

idarity movement sweeping Castlegar city council?

Smecher also keeps proving
she’s a financial iron woman.
When discussions about money
at council sessions get pretty
loose, she usually doesn’t need
any prompting to be the voice
of reason.

Even Bob Pakula took up the
torch in an effort to have
delinquent water and sewer
accounts heard on _ an
individual basis.

All this has me wondering
where the solidarity movement
came from.

Maybe some councillors feel
it’s time to prove what they are
capable of accomplishing on
their own. I mean, we hear so
often about what council is

Price
While
Marilyn

SRESRIaanrer

iturday, October 31, 1992

158

Action

JORDAN CROTEAU is happy to an-
nounce the arrival of his “tummy baby”
JARRED BRADLEY STEVEN. Born
October 23, 1992 at Trail Regional Hos-
pital weighing 10 Ibs. 9 oz. and 21 3/4
inches long. Proud parents are Brad
and Carrie Croteau rents are
Tom and Karen Batchelor of Blueberry

| Creek, Ray Croteau of Shoreacres and

Jerry and Shirley Hunter of Barrhead
Alberta.

1 WOULD like to thank the person who
turned in my purse. Thank-you with
deep appreciation.

ADS

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ACTION ADS — 365-7266

Action Ad Deadline For Saturday _.__—s55. p.m., Wednesday
Display Ad Deadline For Saturday
Action Ad Deadline for Wednesday

5 p.m., Tuesday
5 p.m., Monday
5 p.m., Friday

17
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NELSON LITTLE THEATRE presents
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P.M. Tickets $8.50/$6.50 students and
seniors at the Theatre Box Office

' WANTED
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Pastime Club, Upstairs City Centre Square
$10 Buy-In Table Stakes
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Get Lf alaad with a neighbor in our
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For Price of 4

SPECIAL RATES ARE FOR
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ORDER BY MAIL

Print Your Action Ad on a separate piece
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HUMAN RIGHTS ACT

All advertisements such as Help Wanted
must comply with the British Columbia
Human Rights Act. This Act states no
advertisement may state or imply a
p . limitation, or specification, on
the basis of an applicant's race, religion,
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origin, age, sex (unless the matter relates
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AND prior approval has been obtained
through the Human Rights Branch).

In Memoriam 27

Found 36

MULTI-COLOR FEMALE KITTEN,
about 3 months old. Found at 1010 Col-
umbia Heights, Robson on Oct. 21
365-5992

SMALL ORANGE AND WHITE KIT-
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365-2760

Personal 42
ALCOHOLICS Anonymous and Al-
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CANADIAN CANCER SOCIETY. In
Memoriam Donations. Information,
Box 3292, Castlegar, B.C. VIN 3H6.
Ph. 365-5167.

SMOKERS

Now - Advanced Laser
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Ends Withdrawal Symptoms & Cravings,

a eliece

IN LOVING memory of our brother and
uncle WILLIE POPOFF who passed
away November 3, 1982

Loving and kind in all his ways,
Upright and just to the end of his days,
Sincere and kind in heart and mind,
What a beautiful memory he left behind.

Sadly missed by sister Martha (Sid)
Grieves and tamy

Lost 33

BEIGE and brown long-haired cat lost
approx. 1 week ago from 2300 block
11th Avenue. If found or any information
please call 365-6987 after 4 p.m.

BETWEEN Crestview Cresc. and
Keenleyside Dam large red Anorak.
365-5526

Free Weight Management Included
In Castlegar Nov. 6th -
Trail Nov. 7th
$59.95 (reg. $95.00)
VISA/M.C. O.K.
Last chance at this price - Call Today!
ALPHA THERAPY — 769-6287

CASTLEGAR GRIEF SUPPORT.
Meetings Home Support Office, 7 P. M.
on 3rd nday, monthly. 365-6883 or
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SHARE A RIDE-couple wishes a ride
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Help Wanted 99

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PAIR OF boys gold rim glasses in case
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365-8409

SET OF FORD keys on keyring with
safety deposit box key and one or two
others. Evenings 365-2162

SET OF FORD KEYS on key ring with
safety deposit box key & 1 or 2 others
365-2162 evenings

SET of keys lost between Castlegar and
Brilliant, yellow Care Bear chain

Found 36

BLACK LONG-HAIRED male cat, Kin-
berry Heights area. 365-3772

BY HOSPITAL late last week, set of
Toyota Keys (approx.-6 keys on chain)
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CAT with tortoise shell coloring, tabby
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FOUND ITEMS are not charged for. If
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GRADE 10 or 11 student for part-time
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THE FAR SIDE

By GARY LARSON

AAA
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A big day for Jimmy

Hotel, Restaurants 102

EXPERIENCED mature waitress for
day-shift. Apply in person with resume
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Work Wanted 126

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Beauty/
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releasing the report wasn’t
even necessary, Smecher
immediately and _ openly
disagreed. She said a lot of
headaches would’ve been
avoided if the report was just
publicized in the first place.

Coun. Lawrence Chernoff
took a second look at the city’s
recent report to the provincial

overnment’s education

ing review panel. It stated
school boards should only have
an advisory role in the

collectively trying to achieve.
I’m not advocating the
dismantling of teamwork by
any stretch. What I am saying
is that it’s nice to see our
councillors look at both sides of
the story on their own volition.

pov sty contain no solutions: to near ESTATE
school board issues.

And how about that great
albatross around council’s neck
known as the Price Waterhouse
report? In case you forgot,
that’s the two-year-old study