LABOR — TWU taking action to Counter ‘forced transfers’ B.C. Tel's A stand taken by two members of the Telecommunications Workers Union in tefusing to accept the closure of a Gibsons Phone Mart operation was expected to go before the Canada Labor Relations Board at Tribune press time Monday. But whatever the decision by the CLRB, the union has vowed “one way or another” to stop B.C. Telephone Company’s central- ization of operations and its forced transfers which the company is using as a form of layoff. “One way or another we’ll develop some sort of peaceful resistance that will eliminate the problem for the people of B.C.,”” TWU president Bill Clark told a press conference last week. The union called the conference to declare that it could take action in other communities similar to that taken on the Sunshine Coast where the TWU_ has declared phone service “hot” in protest over the Phone Mart closure. _ Members were refusing to carry out ser- vice for B.C. Tel to support two TWU 5th Annual SAM Music Festival & Barbeque July 21, 1 p.m. featuring * Tom Hawken * * Charlotte Diamond *~ * Aymuray (Chilean) * * Bargain at 1/2 the Price ‘Reunion * Guest Speaker: Pauline Weinstein Adm: $5, $3 unempl. 12715 - 66th Ave., Surrey For info ph. 594-0539 members, Marie Synnot and Barb Chiason who refused to accept the closure and their forced transfer to North Vancouver and instead set up picket lines outside their work place in Gibson’s. B.C. Tel has contended that poor sales necessitated the closure of the Phone Mart operation which is to be replaced by kiosks in Sechelt and Gibsons where orders for phone service can be placed. But the closure follows a pattern of cen- tralization of operations that B.C. Tel has carried out in various parts of the province including the Okanagan, Vancouver Island and the Kootenays. As regional cen- tres. are closed and Operations centra- lized in larger cen- tres, workers are forced to accept transfers to other areas of the pro- vince. Many, par- ticularly married women whose hus- bands have estab- lished jobs, are BILL CLARK inable to take the transfer and are laid off instead. Clark told reporters the company’s pres- ent policy of centralization is “simply a way to achieve layoffs through selective means.” In an article in the union’s newspaper, The Transmitter, last month, Clark noted that there appeared to be a “common denominator” among companies such as B.C. Tel to press for large numbers of forced transfers as a method of eliminating employees. “This trend is consistent wher- ever it seems the employees have negotiated strong job security protection throughout their union.” The article pointed out that married women are a particular target for forced transfers since they are least able to move to a different community. It cited a leaked document from Air Canada which identi- fied married women as the least likely to be able to follow their work and pointed to ticket offices in Regina and Calgary as operations which would have high attrition rates if they were closed. Those B.C. Tel operations slated for clo- sure would produce similar “attrition rates,” since most employees there are mar- ried women, the article noted. It also emphasized that the forced transfer enables the company to circumvent adequate notice and seniority provisions in the collective agreement. Clark said the TWU would do “whatever we can to protect our members’ rights not to be displaced from their jobs.” Right-to-work ICBA challenges fair wage The right-to-work Independent Cana- dian Business Asso- ciation (ICBA) has launched an attack on Vancouver’s newly-established fair wage, arguing in a Supreme Court challenge that the provision restricts free competition and that the city does not have the right to set a fair wage stand- ard. But the move appears more of an effort to head off similar action by other munici- palities since Vancouver’s right to establish a fair wage has been upheld by Attorney- BRUCE ERIKSEN Cil= JOIN THE GREAT aaemc a pats AE a Waatet With GLOBE TOURS For any of your travel needs big or small. Let Globe Tours find the best way for you. Specializing iri tours to the USSR GLOBE TOURS 2679 E. Hastings St., Vancouver, B.C. V5K 125 253-1221 General Brian Smith and, in any event, is spelled out in the city’s charter. “This move by the city could have a snowball effect and we are not willing to sit back and let it happen,” ICBA executive vice-president Douglas Spears stated in announcing the court challenge. In a move initiated: by the COPE members on city council, and subsequently backed by the Civic Independents, city council voted 6-4 May 28 to establish the rate earned by city-employed tradesmen, members of the Canadian Union of Public Employees, as the fair wage. That would force non-union contractors to bring their wage rates up substantially in order to qualify for city contracts. COPE alderman Bruce Eriksen emphas- ized that the city is, in fact, obliged under its charter to require of contractors that they pay a fair wage. ‘All we did was determine what that fair wage would be,” he said. He added that the A-G had upheld the city’s right to take the action it did. Smith was replying to questions from West Van- couver Socred MLA John Reynolds who, in an echo of the ICBA’s position, had queried the fair wage provision. RANKIN & COMPANY Barristers & Solicitors 4th Floor, 195 Alexander St. Vancouver, B.C. V6A IN8 682-2781 Offers a broad range of legal services including: Personal Injury & Insurance claims Real Estate & Conveyancing Divorce & Family Law Labour Law Criminal Law Estates & Wills ~ Classified Advertising _ COMING EVENTS JULY 14 — Delegation Send-Off Party. 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. G. Legebokoff’s, 3310 Cardinal Dr. North Burnaby. Admission free. Sponsored by B.C. Committee, World Youth Festival. Phone 251-9457 for more info. JULY 14 — Burnaby Labor Picnic. Robert Burnaby Park. Swimming pool, tennis, child- ren’s & adult games. Phone 526-5226 for more info. JULY 21 — MONSTER YARD SALE. You name it, we've got it, from practical to memora- bilia. Everything must go. 3744 Prince Edward St., 11 a.m. to dark. Ph. Atiba, 872-6003. JULY 28 — Hold this date open for Annual Garden Party. Canadian-Cuban Friendship Association at the Ukrainian Hall, Sunday afternoon. AUG. 17 — Keep this date open for ACE bar- beque at Alice Person’s. AUG. 18 — COPE GARDEN PARTY. 2 p.m. at Rankin’s house. Food, refreshments, enter- tainment. Everyone welcome. COMMERCIAL GRAMMA PUBLICATIONS. Complete print- ing services. Brochures, menus, leaflets, etc. A union shop. 1595 W. 3rd Ave., Vancouver. Hours: Mon-Fri. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., 733-6822. ELECTRICAL, PLUMBING, appliance repairs. Don Berg 255-7287. GENERAL INSURANCE, home, business, trade unions. Dave Morton, bus. 986-9351; res. 433-4568. VICTORIA BILL HARTLEY your Auto Plan man. All types of insurance. Mail in or phone in. 2420 Douglas Street, Victoria, V8T 4L7. 388-5014. LEGAL SERVICES RANKIN, BOND, McMURRAY. Barristers and Solicitors. 2nd Floor, 157 Alexander Street. 682-3621. DIRECTORY COMMUNIST PARTY OF CANADA offices located at 102, 2747 E. Hastings St. Vancouver. Phone 254-9836. Office hours 9:30-12 noon; 1-5 p.m. Mon. to Fri. For information on political issues or assistance in political activity. HALLS FOR RENT RUSSIAN PEOPLE’S HOME — Available for rentals. For reservations phone 254-3430. UKRAINIAN CANADIAN CULTURAL CENTRE — 805 East Pender St. Vancouver. Available for banquets, weddings, meetings. Phone 254-3436. Classified advertising rates $1 per line per week. Deadline for insertions. Wednesday of week prior to publication. People’s Co-op Bookstore The Memoirs of a Rebel Journalist.By Wilfred Burchett paperback $15.75 Mine, Mill: The History of the Mine, Mill and Smelter Workers since 1895. By Mike Solski & John Smaller$16.95 Citizen Hughes: In his own words, how he tried to buy America. By Michael Drosnin $26.95 How People Discovered the Shape of the Earth. By Anatoly Tomilin $5.95_ PLEASE NOTE: STORE WILL NOW BE CLOSED ON MONDAYS Hours: Tues.-Sat. 9:30 a.m to 5:30 p.m. Friday 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. 1391 Commercial Drive Vancouver, B.C. V5L 3X5 Telephone: 253-6442 PACIFIC TRIBUNE, JULY 10, 1985 e 7