BY. ROD LINK -

rkers: back to the’ job: thanks

challenges.‘ eos ae
Still: “undecided )

“for: medical’ professionals, regis-
feted nurses and! Piya

“tories. of. rocky: relationships vi

‘the provincial Liberal: government -

ified its ‘contract ‘stance, by “nol.

aT: 0.0 a 0, To: increase com -
ensation: we ‘would. have: to: take ,

; ; - “is being. examined on’ a ease ‘by
THE PROVINCIAL: government” :
may have ‘sent hospital: support —

case. ‘basis...

“a legislated. contract. But it’s nde ‘plied wh ‘e
‘the end. ‘ofits health: care: = labour: is" to” ‘conduct talks” based’. On, zero ©

salary: i increases with: ‘medical pro-

fessionals. “wha. are., also’ being

The Heath: Sciences
“Association: (HSA) |
his. union: represents “apptox-
imately 12,000 health care-profes-

pathologists to, pharmacists...

nt Sit buit: does say ‘oven sie

‘aren’t-in: the ‘cards: :

ments: ‘out iheré. in “Alberta. aid: in -
Ontario: resulting : in: “wage- levels .::

that’ are--higher“than the
budgeting: for any. salaty: or fée-ine at are ‘higher. than de are fo

creases: in. “its: current. fiscal, veer ie

some: ‘Of: of si member ai

ne proximately: 26, 000 : registered:
os nurses, -has : not. fully. Tejected: ‘the :
= triple-zero wage: incredse: position

of the’ provincial government.”

by calling. for ‘the. creation Of more

it OPEN. HOUSE a on ‘health’ cone.

on full’ time ‘register ed: purse: po i
“tions. ~ -

“qaledise ean datas b ‘bat “tie did” “Dai: tha would co culling

say. the zero. wage tterelse, Foley :

“issues: has been” Set. for: Tuesday.
"June at the Coast Inn of the’

a ~ ‘West. .
= “_-Coinmutily -yorking seasions

ate. also. planned: through: the: day

“The ‘open “house? ~alked: lice a
from: 5:30 ‘to 8:30. pim.: Tuesday:

“past: réljed'on casual-nursing ‘posi;

sought - by: other _ Provinces: and” ;
: fo og ES ~. blems : ‘as these. positions ‘don*t*:
_- come: with: the. kind: of” ‘expensive. .
benefits paid
-nent:nurses.

‘The: HSA and“health. care. asi .

ployers™ have: met . ‘about (ist
“now :work:: full: lime compared to

itty 52 per cent.in 1997...

a The: HSA’s last: contract
: was” “imposed | by the provincial’
- Libéral’

traditional: sense, but the. B.C.
Medical’. Association: (BCMA), :
; ~ the: physicians’ bargaining. agent,
= oe. instead is” angling: toward”
MOTE, employment | for ‘its members

‘back « on 1 thie niiniber of ‘casual and.
: os part tithe-nurses,

“Pn sure. some of these = iis .
; Hewes, would. boos’

“Such; a‘ move, the: BCNU ‘be:
(patient: care ~
by making more ‘nurses’ available
withalit incréasing. overall’ costs. :
‘Health’ ‘employers. have in: tthe

“tions” to: ease their. budget “pro

to full-time: erma- °

: They've. als.

” styles.”

The. BOND has - ised” health:
“ministry statistics which indicate
that-41-'per cent. of B:C,“nurses: :

“The: BCNU wants: to ‘set’ a. tar,
get: of 51 ‘per cent, full’ time em

“ployment by. March 2006: and sug-
gests -that’s -possible by educing
“the percentage of nurses in: casual

positions by 20 per cent. ue

-Registered* nurses: “are: ‘coming

posed. on. them: by. the: proviscia
Liberal: ‘government. ,

“And: ‘because « there is ‘auch: ‘a

_ shortage: of: nurses, the: overtirne® *
ban: Tésullted : ‘in: ‘sufficient distup=""
ten’ to. cause. ‘the’ province. to order’

Sofhe. nurses: back to, work, albeit.”
: with hefty wage. ‘increases. _

The B, Cc. ‘Medical
Association (BCMA): a.

ot: ‘may not be a union in. ‘the:

has locked more than: its fair share
of labour: relations horns with. both:
~ the former NDP. government’ and»

current Liberal’ administration: -

“healthe ca or ‘call 1- 866- 445. 8013

‘said. some e nurses =
7 prefer: part time positions, as-it- fits.

°. sionals .in: jobs:ranging from dieti-, their: ‘individual and family. life"

ians- to. psychologists | to. speech 7

an “failed to.” find. grounds for ain”

off a contract ‘that’ was also Am-:

i Although ‘the registered furses. :
oS did. not: strike’ last: time aul,» they:
: ee refused: to” “work: overtime.:

- Under’ the NDP,’ for: ‘instance, :
doctors: closed their: offices. ‘on ‘oc

“Depending. on your, time ‘or ine
terest, you:can attend @ session.or. ”
“ -openhouse in person or. you can...
“fill out a‘ workbook: in: the comfort --
of your own hoine— by yourself c Or:

= with: others” asa | group Gai

a “And “consuliation work ‘books os
os ean, be ‘picked: up al Mills. Memor-
‘ial. Hospital or, ‘the Terrace: ‘Health be

NURSE MARGARET: Kurisu and HEU porter Andrea Baker walked the picket line at Mills Memorial Hospital last month. The line. was.
part of B. C. 's latest health care labour dispute. . ms

casion to protest fee clawbacks.
In 2000, first*in Prince George: -

- and then in’ smaller: towns, such as

” Terrace, ° ‘doctors. threatened job,
_ action. to. back. demands for. more
“money for. rural :physicians. *-

- Ts last fee agreement: (it ran’ .

- out March: 31). was. teached- only.

emment introduced Jegislation.

This spring, the: BCMA. opted
“talks: ‘by. asking for: an Ad: ‘per: cent”
- fee ‘increase:.. :.
- Health’ minister: Colin: ‘Hansen
said: that’ would ‘cost $1.3. billion.”

called: “outrageous.”

The: last fee: ‘schedulé . raised |
_doctors' ‘fees’ and. benefits by: $392.
“nillion, a year.

iis: ‘position, saying: it. would. ‘setile:

“creases in the, first. two. years. "Of
‘three. year agreement.’

agreement ‘on’ the amount, and the.

three-person conciliation panel!-.

“by the - -Feport’ 3. recommendations:
-but, the. jovernment, can: reject
‘them, :
In. the. ‘meantime, provincial.

‘physicians. have. mounted: a- public ;

relations campaign to reduce. s sur---
“gical ‘and treatment. wait lists. :

= It’s-not-a: way: of. putting ' pres: |

» sure on the. province: td. come : ‘Up.

with “more: 2 : Says: ‘Sharon:

ae “We: “need ‘lo feduce ‘wait ii |
~§0 “patients. ‘get?-the. care’ they.”
néed,” she: said; “When it goes on

for. months. and months:aid there! 8.

> no: date,. that’ 5 untenable."

more money. the: proy itice puts in

to reducing. wail lists, the: busier.”

surgeons and. other. doctors. will’ be:

olay will earn,

. ng ‘Key questions “include How: in

how: ‘to. define success" in “working”
for, beiter health. care, and various.
7 groups: and: Vagencies should worl

. ; the Terrace Standard, Wednesday, May 26, 2004 - AS

, PHOTO. MARGARET ‘SPEIRS: :

after the: currént : “provincial gove-.d-

over three: years, an- amount he |,

The BCMA “packed down ‘from:

for zero and Zero: per’ cent fee’ ine”:

Bait still wants a free inorease |

‘matters: “now” in, ‘the: hands" fof ant

smonth. ‘The. doctors. have. 4o'abide ©

“But: Shore: did ‘concede: that. the. L

“more: they: works: the more.

dividuals. cand. farnilies. can. im
prove the: health: of communities; :

CORRESPONDENCE FOR THE TERRACE STANDARD”

The Mail Bag —

ener
Look at the alternatives —

Dear. Sir: .
“From my. pérsorial: experience, r believe that the

_students than the regular’ school system:

been extremely beneficial Tort me, to, attend. Parkside
_ Secondary School. : o
The ‘alternate: school

“makes it easier to. ‘ask: for help. -

‘to ‘perform | ajask that they are not’ comfortable ‘doing.-
An example of this: would: ‘be speaking/reading out

loud infront, of the: class,
In the regular school! ‘system, :

. and. less .comfortable:. Some | teachers -. ‘tend . to
“- embarrass | “students” in ‘front. of the. class by

“policy reduces ‘the likeliness ‘of: bullying and: injury,
‘With.a “low. “population,. “it: ‘becomes easier. ta

coming to school under (he. influence. As a result,
_ Students aire more’ successful with their ‘studies,

place’ oni or around school property...
The drug: policy i is also. very lenient. Many: students
“attend: ‘school ‘under the influence of: drugs, and. At is:

q very. difficult: for teachers’ to: control this

‘There..is much flexibility, in. the alternate schoo!’ 's
“Structure, : which: is very: supportive of the students.

“one. time ‘with the teachers ‘OF. ‘their assistants...

= feeling, making il less: likely for.them to give Up.
‘Opportunities. for’ support from, outside: agencies are.

* require: it.-

'-teacher-lead- courses - make ‘it ; “very difficult- for
* students to: ‘pet extra help is they: miss’ classés or fal!
- behind: Students: feel. much. anxiety-if, they: cannot
- keep’ up. or: if ihey. do, not understand the work.

’-become: more. “achievable..

L SUPPORT rather, than stress.

» Terrace B. Cc.

“Gov't drives evil choices

*-An-‘open: fetter tor .
“Education ministerTom Christensen: ’

; “ghioices:: '
Ay Four-day:, school

‘ leave’ school; Their future. may be. compromised : by an

“ concentrate for- ‘the same’ period of time: ‘as typical

“larger: ‘break ° between : learning. days” means less
‘retention: of information:

poorly, - overcrowded conditions and larger class ‘sizes

twelve-year-old it -will probably: .mean. a move up to

SIZES, for all four’ children,® less one-on- -one-and. teacher

*'schools:that aren’t- properly cleaned or ‘maintained:

- (government - is ‘asking sme: lo: choose between Alex;

to ‘recommend ag the.lesser-of three evils.--:
Why. should, my ‘children's education. he affected
by. ‘evil choices? Because the. Liberal government, ‘has

address is 3210. Clinton: St, Terrace, B.C. VBG
 5R2:. You ‘ean fax. us at 250-638: 8432. oF. 6-mail
us at newsroom @terracestandard. cam.°No

‘It has'a better. social: environment, : “more: stringent. .
policies; and ‘a-‘more-. “flexible school. structuré. -It has °~._

‘is ‘one ‘that. ig sed ‘on .
equality, ‘The: teachers” are. addréssed’ on ‘first, ame...»
-. basis. This: “makes students’ feel Jess inferior, whichy oa

- “Teachiers ‘also-treat the students with nore” ‘respect: a
They do. not'make- fun of them, nor-do: they, force them os

students. do ‘not. feel.
. the’ same ‘sense of equality. You: must: ‘refer to the =~.
teachers’ ‘by: their. surmame,: which:feels more. ‘formal’.

“inappropriale remarks or ‘reading their ‘marks out loud,
* The ‘alternate. school has: fewer ‘students, therefore, —.
“the school policies are’ easier. to enforce ‘The hands off

recognize a. problem: before it gets. out: of hand: The’ :
zero-tolerance drug. policy discourages: students from. -'

“Tn the. regular school system, itis ‘more: ‘diffi cult: to: a
 eniforce their: school - policies’ because -of: the’ high -°
population. It is easy for fights to be planned or lake. =

With A ratio: of. 15: Lthe students receive ‘more. gne-on- a

“Students are: ‘able: to. ‘work’ ai their. own pace,’ with ~
. | extra. “time. allowéd for. tests, This. is helpful in--
“relieving-‘some. of ‘the. stress that the ‘students are -

. also” easily: available for. ‘the: students, who: feel. | they: .

The’ regular ‘school asa ai more’ tigi ‘structure. The :

‘Students are more’ likely. to give up under these”
“circumstances. tis a complicated : ‘process: fora’:
student: to. ‘obtain. extr help from outside agencies if’.

od. required. S .

- These examples are bn afew of ihe ‘benefits shat I
“have experienced while attending: Parkside, Secondary
School. I feel more successful. and that: my: goals. have :

ECESSHOS! is: NOW -a | “place, wie 1 feel is flea with, .

“ heeah ‘Leclerc, ,

éek « The. four. day. ‘sctiool ~
]--week is: probably. OK" for my neuro-typical: -children~
: ~ although ‘they’ may: not. ‘be as: competitive when they

‘inadequate’ ‘education caused : by” being given an: _
incomplete curticulum:: ‘For’ my- yolinger’ children: it is.
~acdisaster.. Children: cwith ‘Autism “and: ADHD cannot ~~

- children. The- Jonger day séts-them up. for: failure. The ~:

“22 School closures = Closing. our ‘local ‘elementary
-'school would not impact my ¢ eldest child: For the ones.
o still. attending | Kildala™ it” would- meati: one ‘more.’
- ‘¢hange for’ the. autistic-child who: handles ‘transitions |

“Tot the child who lives with ADHD and this will'result,
isan! inctease-in: inappropriate. behaviouts.. For my. © -

_ the High School ‘and: integration with much’ dlder,.

Be students. For: all: threé, .it ‘will, increase: their, ‘school a
- day by -one ‘hour they will have to take the bus.:..-

-3. CUPE: Layoffs/Teacher Layoff fs = “jncreased class

-time:: - Decreased “special” services‘ assistant.time for -.
“my autistic child, he will probably have: to share with
~ariother special needs child; Absolutely no- SSA.time -
“for'my ADHD child,: ‘He: isn't eligible: for ‘much exita,
help. ‘at cthe. ‘moment, : ‘T’m:sure that won't get any
“better. My: two. ‘neurd-typical.. children: will: attend

As.a. responsible - ‘and caring - ‘parent. ‘how: can, I
“recommend . any... of. the’. above. actions? . Your. -

Andrew, Logati- “and Kevin, No: parent should be forced
a F to: makes ‘choice: like: that... -

: These*.are the choices. Coast Mountains “School :
~ District is facéd with. ‘Choices they are asking parents

-ebosen. ‘to ‘Uhrow ty this province’ s. Future . by

“Slane ard. waleomes letters. Our -

“attachments, : please. Wa: need : “your “name, ©
‘address. and phone: number. tor’ verification. ‘Our.
deadiine is’ neon: Ende ‘of ‘noon. Thursday | if. Wsa a:

“long weekend.

alternate ‘school system is” ‘more. “successful for. :

KS. ‘a. ‘parent L- am i being. asked | 0 make: these ae