British Columbia Privatization Update Employee resigns over lab sell-off Charging that privatization has resulted in a government waste of taxpayers’ funds and a deterioration of environmental pro- tection, a 20-year employee of the provin- ce’s environment laboratory resigned Nov. 9 to protest the sale of the lab to the Private sector. Doug Sandberg, a staff member at the lab since 1968 and until his resignation, head of the air services section, said in a Statement: “ I have taken this very serious Step because of what I perceive to be a Waste of government funds and the deteri- Oration of environmental monitoring pro- grams since the privatization of the environmental lab in August. “T have become incivasingly alarmed at the inadequate and, in some instances, total absence of monitoring of pollution discharges since the lab was privatized. We Now have a situation in B.C. where routine _ industrial pollution tests are simply. not being checked for accuracy,” he said. He charged that the privatization of the lab “has destroyed any real monitoring Program of pollution discharges, leaving B.C. with the poorest record in Canada on Monitoring and control of pollution.” - Sandberg outlined his allegations in Teports to both the Auditor-General and the Ombudsmen. In announcing his resignation, Sand- berg also revealed previously undisclosed information showing that Zenon Envir- onmental Corporation, which bought the - lab from the provincial government, Teceived guarantees of some $14 million in Subsidies. The company, which is cur- rently negotiating a detailed contract cov- ering its purchase, has already arranged to get equipment which has been appraised by a leading accounting firm at $2.25 mil- lion for $850,000. B.C. Hydro move He also noted that the private com- pany, B.C. Research Company, which has ‘a new strategy’ contracted with the government to pro- vide monitoring of pollution testing, is not Local 378 of the Office and Technical carrying out its obligations. Employee said this week that the union’s In addition to investigations by the continued opposition to privatization had Auditor-General and the Ombudsman, - frustrated B.C. Hydro’s plans to sell. offits Sandberg called for a probe by the federal Research and Development and Compu- minister of the environment and for ter and Management System divisions. immediate steps to be taken by the federal But B.C. Hydro’s subsequent decision ministry “to protect the environment and__ to create separate but wholly-owned sub- the citizens of B.C.” sidiaries of the two divisions was leading to attempts to “do an end run around the ‘More govt gifts union’s established wages and benefits,” OTEU staff repre- H sentative Jeanie in B.C. gas bonds Greatbatch told the Vancouver and District Labour Council Tuesday. The union said In a.policy reminiscent of British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher’s privatiza- tion program, the Socred Se : iving away millions to makeitssell-offof BC. fides gas division look good, a 4 cnet = NDP MLA has charged. ~ week that the Vancouver East NDP MLA Glen Ctown corpora Clark said that the government hadestab- "0n's action was lished an excessively high interest and slow moBe HARVEY commission rate on its B.C. Gas Exchan- alization, adding oe : es geable Bonds. While the usual commis- that the union had “three to five years” to sion rate is 0.75 per cent for bond sales, the Ben It. : government is paying issuing agents 1.5 We see this announcement as a oe per cent on the gas bonds — ata cost to porary retreat by the government an B.C. taxpayers of $1.12 million. Hydro management,” said Local 378 pres- In addition, he said, the government is ident Anne Harvey. But she warned that picking up the tab for the half million the company was now SHaviNs LOCODN INES: dollar advertising campaign promoting ts employees that they would “like work- i ivate company as part of the he bonds. ing for a priva' : “Bush Columbians are paying the Strategy to turn down the volume on the price of privatization,” Clark charged. Ones: “We have a government that is taking She said the union would continue to $50 away from people on income assist- hold B.C. Hydro to the collective agree- ance but is ready to drop halfa millionin ment and would resist efforts by the com- order to promote a bond that benefits pany to meet one-on-one with employees private investors,” he said. over wages and benefits. 1989 Pocket Diaries THE EVERYWOMAN’S ALMANAC $9.95 THE HERSTORY DIARY $8.95 (coilbound) HOUSMANS PEACE DIARY $10.95 THE ANC DIARY $8.95 (slimline) Mail orders please include O¢ per book. 1391 COMMERCIAL DRIVE VANCOUVER, B.C. V5L_3X5 TELEPHONE 253-6442 Pal & COMPANY |= Trial Lawyers ‘Uncontested divorce $200* Conveyancing $200* , Incorporations $200* Flowers for all occasions pce rack sere 5 Se i $300* #15-4429 Kingsway prainion agreements oot urna 2Al ICBC contingency fee agreement B by B.C. V5H Welfare/UIC appeals No fee Telephone *All prices plus disbursements 434-3533 3 Divorce and Family Law (Toll free 1-800-663-1014) “ Criminal Law o ge (including impaii riving) \ We specialize Bs addin a \ 108-2182 West 12th/732-7678 Waicg® by xe a8 Tim Louis Michael Hambrook ay ‘s Se Z “at SP So >| [oo 2 Mm A progressive, fraternal society in z Canada operating since 1922, offers insurance protection at a minimum cost. e Life insurance i e Insurance-savings plans Workers e Pension plans e Family insurance plans Benevolent Saori shefeasattsroaranire Association Apply to the WBA Branch in your locality or write: Workers’ Benevolent Association 595 Pritchard Ave., Winnipeg, Man., R2W 2K4 Classified Advertising COMING EVENTS gy NOV. 26 — Annual Labour Bazaar. Maritime Labour Centre, 1880 Triumph St. Vancouver. Doors open 12 noon to 4 p.m. Gifts, crafts, great food, baking, Christmas cards, toys, white ele- phant. Admission free. Sponsored by Greater Vancouver Regional Committee, CPC. For info phone Anna: 294-6775 NOV. 27 — China: Reform and the Future. Slides and commentary by Tribune editor Sean Griffin, recently returned from two weeks inthe People’s Republic of China. 1 p.m. Russian Hall, 600 Campbell Ave., Van. Free — all welcome. KAMLOOPS MARXIST-LENINIST discussion group, open to all on 2nd Wed. of each month. 7:30 p.m. at North Kamloops Library. For info 376-7110. TRIB LENDING LIBRARY — 242 Larch Ave. Lots of labour and progressive literature for your reading enjoyment at no cost. For info 376-7110. Kamloops. FOR SALE SCOTCH PINE Xmas tree, travel iron, Sawyer slide proj., tape recorder. Ph. Jean 941-3925. COMMERCIAL TRIB PHOTOS — Would you like a specific photo in the Pacific Tribune? Copies available: 5"x7"/$4.50, 8"x10"/$6. Phone 251-1186. GRAMMaA PUBLICATIONS. Complete print- ing services. Brochures, menus, leaflets, etc. A union shop. 2089 Commercial Dr. Vancouver. Hours: Mon.-Fri. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. 254-7717. 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UKRAINIAN CANADIAN CULTURAL CENTRE — 805 East Pender St. Vancouver. Available for banquets, weddings, meetings. Phone 254-3436. Classified advertising rates $1.25 per line per week. Deadline for insertions: Monday of week prior to pubication. THE ANNUAL 12noon= 4pm Maritime Labour Centre 1880 Triumph, Van. eam Gis. Christmas tems A SS @ a ete.” Refreshments sponsored, by gyre cpc Pacific Tribune, November 21, 1988 « 11