A14- The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, June 19, 1996 From front Single union eyes mining contract Royal Oak because they wanted what Kroeker described as ‘down town agree- ments."? One union wasn’t happy with a ban on al- cohol and drugs at lhe construction camp and a ban on hunting and fishing in the area. ‘Our position is that somebody goes in there and docs there-21 shifts and comes oul and then. does whatever they want’ on their seven days,"’ said Krocker. Another union said one of ils members wondered who would look after his’ motor- home if be parked it in Smithers, the spot from where workers would be. flown into the site. “This kind of thing boggles the mind,’” said Krocker. He described the Kemess project, with the exception of the now-dead Kemano project, as the largest sitigle opportunity . for unionized workers ‘in the ‘torthwest since the carly 1980s. In total, Royal Oak-is spending close to $390 million on the project that’ll employ more than 500 people during the construc- tion phase and 350 people once the mine goes into production. The provincial invesiment of $166. mil- lion includes money for a powerline, road system, health clinic and training. Part of that amount is compensation for property Royal Oak owned that is now in - the Tatshenshini provincial park. The pro- vince will also receive a royally fom cop- per taken out of Kemess. Royal Oak spokesman Graham Eacott decliied to comment on discussions un- derway between his: company and B.C. trade unions. He did say the lack of a labour agreement to date hasn't affected the company’s con- Siruction schedule leading fo an opening in early 1998, The company isn’t required by the pro- vince to hire union labour but if has com- mitted itself to hire as many B.C. workers as possible as part of the financial deal worked out with the province. And there’s an added requirement to pro- vide as much work-as possible to natives living in and around the areca, Wage, benefits cut caused union walk from contract talks TRADE UNIONS rejected a mining com- pany's construction contract offer because it called for reduced wages and benefits from standard industry agreements, says a labour official. Workers would have taken wage and benefit cuts of between $3 and $5 an hour under a proposed contract with Royal Oak Mines, said Tom Galbraith of the B.C. and Yukon Territory Building and Construction Trades Council. ‘dt was a lot of work to walk away from,”’ said Galbraith of the 1 million hours of: construction labour involved in building Royal Oak’s gold and copper mince northeast of Smithers. **The wage and benefits package ‘was nal acceptable by the trades,’" he added, Unions also failed to reach agreement with Royal Oak on what would happen to workers if they couldn’t fly out of the camp Students Desk Was $299 NOW... ccsesseeeesenees vn ® SY Dining Table w/ 4chairs Was $280 Starting at.......... eesneneavensanees 50% Of Touch Lamps All sizes and shapes Starting at.............. sieeesenaeens Was $850 Now VCR 4 head, hi-fi stereo Was $729......0.. .. Now Some Items Under Original Cost! 29” Stereo TV Samsung Full Remote loaded with features 5749 for days off if bad winter weather growided aircraft. “IC that happened, their seven days out could have beer only two, perhaps, It was just somethiig we couldn’t get an answer on,’’ said Galbraith. He did concede that Royal Oak would have had a difficult lime giving guarantees of time out owing lo the unpredictability of winter weather, Some unions also opposed a hunting and fishing ban in and around the construction camp, saying workers in effect would be bottled up in their rooms when off shift. Galbraith said the failure to reach a con- Iracl agreement with B.C. lrades unions has received a mixed reaction, “Some sald they wouldn't have worked for what Royal Oak wanted to pay anyway while some would have liked an op- portunity to work on that project,” he said, “The BEST Marinated Barbecue Meat & Poultry in Town” ~ Bulk Lean Ground Beef : Limit 2 bags per customer ; Boneless Blade Steak Family Pack Chuck Steak Family Pack New!! For The BBQ Season Marinated BBQ Meats © * Teriyaki * Soulviaki * South West BBQ * Maui Ribs * Honey Garlic Serving Northwestern B.C. For 22 Years 638-1312 Fax 638-1318 CALL NO CHARGE 1-800-663-3903 4545 Lakelse Ave., Terrace 149 problems as: ov 369 FOR EDUCATION OF OUR CUSTOMERS PUBLIC NOTICE We have a payment plan of 12 equal payments or simply pay the lowest price by cash, visa, mastercard, or cheque. Everytime you ask for a 2 year “No interest No payment program” You are faced with such 1. You pay higher price for product 2. You don’t have the money today - how will you pay tomorrow. 3. Pay highest interest rates Truckload Special To Clear. Making Room For New Stock! Sofa & Chair was 1099 18 cu. ft. rige Was $1399 _$799 Westinghouse Range .°699 Self Cleaning Was $1099 “Spc B Bedroom sure 499 Was $1199 Now... Your choice Queen/Double | Mattress & Foundation ° $399 Boxsprings Left Over Queen/Double/Single Some Valued at $350 Your Choice “cam hO | i *599 Now.........