Page A2 - The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, May 12, 1993 Health union deal judged too hazy TERRACE — The local health care society couldn’ support a deal negoliated between the provincial government and health cate unions, says its chief execu- tive officer. Not enough was. known about the financial impact of the three- year accord, said’ Michael Leijsinger. He made the comments during a one-hour study session by nurses and . ofher. unionized workers at Mills Memorial Hos- pilal May 5. The deal would have cut the work week from 37.5 hours to 36 in lieu of wage increases this year with the exception of a one per cenl wage equity hike and pro- vided for job security. It also cailed for an orderly reduction in the labour force if required. There would be wage increases Shelter closes TERRACE —— The emergency shelter for the homeless, located at the Skeena Health Unit auditorium, closed its doors April 30. The auditorium was no longer available for shelter use, and organizers lacked money to oper- ate somewhere else. The shelter opened last winter following the death of Terrace resident Daisy Wesley. Wesley had been living with her husband under a plastic tarp on a vacant _ city lot before she died, The facility was opened in De- cember to both local residents and out-of-town people who found themselves with little or no money and no place. to stay. It was seen as a lemporary housing solution for the winter months. . Efforts are underway to estab- lish a permanent shelter before next winter. The Daisy Wesley Housing Commitice (D WHC) has submitted a proposal_for.a multi-... | . use transition house for adult n men in the other two years of the ac- cord, In effect the reduction in the work week would have piven workers a four per cent wage in- . crease this year. Leisinger said week was reduced. He said clauses of the deal that referred to possible extra money available to hospitals were too vague. “Tf there had been less un- certainty in the terms of the: ac- cord we may have had a diffcrent outcome,’’ he added. B.C. hospitals voted 55 per cent in favour of the agreement. But their organization —-the Health Labor Relations Association (HLRA) — requires a two-thirds majority to ratify such a deal. The Terrace Regional Health Care Society board rejected the tentative agreement last monti. Failure of hospitals to accept the deal and Jack of further talks means existing wage agreements could go into play. That means general increases of four per cent this year and for the - Text two years. “The problem is we can’i af- ford the agreements we have now and we couldn’t afford the ac- cord,”’ said Leisinger. He added that a surplus last year could get the hospital by for this year without running into a the... hospital. might have to hire more people to cover areas left vacant if the work deficit. Hospital workers called for con- linuing on local hospital. trustees lo reverse their position and ap- prove the accord, ‘‘HLRA’s failure to ratify: this _- agreement . will “bring . chaos - to. health care in B.C.,’” B.C, Nurses Union spokesman Diane Jackson told union members at the May 5 study session. Arid if’ more layoffs result, she predicted, “they be up to their eyeballs in trouble.’? Other speakers accused Leisinger of being more inter- ested in getting a CT scanner for Mills. Memorial than avoiding staff layoffs. Leisinger said unions are effec- tively demanding to.be paid top dollar ‘‘even if it means reducing services to the community.”” ““There’s always money to be found,”’ ‘Leisinger said, ‘‘but there isn’t the kind of money that the. unions think is laying around,”” . "Our backs ave against the wall,”? he added. © . Leisinger said the deal’s provi- sions protecting job security of hospital workers are good ones. -“This board does..not want to see ‘chaos in the. industry. They don’t: want to sce layoffs. We don’t just want to boot people out on the streets,” “If there are going to be reduc- tions, then yes, let’s do it in a humane way.” anchoouplogererhter atten sain “We're quite optimistic at this point,” said Leila Burton of the DWHC. “We have an agreement. from the provincial’ government : to have a facility by this winter,” she said. The committee is holding a raf fle order:to raise money and a ga- rage sale is planned. “There is no doubt that addi- tional lives have been saved. The community response to the death of Daisy has been tremendous,"’ said Burton. “It really shows that Terrace is a caring community.” Voice wanted TERRACE — High school stu- dents say they won't allow them-. selves':to be ysed as pawns. if. teachers go on strike. . “What they’re doing is gar- bage,’’ said Jeff Smithantk, stu-. - dent council president, at. Caledonia. Senior ~ Secondary School. “Our future is being used: - | as a poker chip, And we really. resent thal.’? °°: Smithanik- - said students: are demanding 1o have representa- tives . at. the. bargaining table if teachers walk out. : He’ said: the’ Terrace: District Teachers Union didn’t object to that idea, but the leader of the | school: board’s negotiating team, secretary-treasurer : _.. Barry Piersdorff, tured it down flat,. . “He was strongly opposed to the idea,’’ Smithanik said, adding he was told bargaining is strictly a matter’ between the. employer and the employees, “We were. basically just the consumers: of: the product,” he’ ensure students”: futures weren vt unnecessarily. jeopardized. AE picket. lines ‘go. up, and stu- irds'a oat te i : hearings at: Highliner Inn . These touchstones for change will be discussed by Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal community leaders, representatives from groups and organizations, and individuals, The Royal ~ Commission on Aboriginal Peoples will hald > Inn of the West 4620 Lakelse Avenue, Terrace, B.C. i) am - 10 pm, May 25 815 = 1st Avenue West, Prince Rupert, B.C. 9- 5 (pm, May 26 and 27 ; Other topics of interest to your community will be discussed at these hearings. These “discussions wilt help shape the ~ Commission’ 8 final recommendations. | made privy: to the a talks,"he said, students’ will find — olher ways to. earyha both aides; “P.O. Box 1993. ee You owe It to yourself to be informed. . For mora information about our hearings phone: : M(613) 943-2020 a The Commission will be accepting written “submissions at its hearings. For more . - <<" information about the Royal Commission on mS Aboriginal Peoples, our toll-free numbers are: . ae 1-800-387-2148 (Cree, Inuktitut, Ojfowa) Z| 1-B00-363-8235 (English, French, Chipewyan) Déne Dédiind Tadanjthens! ha, Nighak’althér Nedhé, Déne Njratiis ae SPAARDY. Ate *beo” ona. 'b'brL woe Oniarlo Royal Commission on Aboriginat Peoples bad Po ODPL cra? hb oC PIC® Vhe Beh berth deed KIP [82 : Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples be PPOPLD® Sdo® BOSCHAPISCE® oC LOCk 4? deta Tories’ choose Terace Conncillor Sheridan emerged the Tory cand candi, date for Skeena in a close vate late last week. - Often referred to by local a= tives as the “‘Working Eagle,” Sheridan wou against Smithers nominee Maurie Montgomery. Over the weekend the two can-_ (iidates delivered speeches in Smithers, Terrace and Prince Rupert. A traveling ballot box collected votes by members of the Progressive Conservative coustinency association in Skeena. ; Sheridan said he’s thankful and honored to be selected as candi- date for the riding. He is already prepating for this year’s federal elections. “We should have an election teant topether-and in place by the end of this week,” he said Mon- day. ; Tn addition to his city council position, Sheridan is. executive dGrector of the Muks-Knm-Ol Housing Society in Terrace. Pa tenon said be plans ta | t all towns and villages © touout the riding to gain recognition =. The vote between Sheridan and Montgomery was close, accord- ing to John McNish, constimency association vice president, but he was miwilling to release numbers. “Both Danny and Maurie were. excellent candidates and I think they wall both continue to do well in politics - it was 3 close compe+ ttion,'* said McMish. . He said Sheridan “has been ac- tive in P.C. politics since he was in. high school.” He predicted Sheridan's knowledge of federal - matters, his experience with na- and political back- eit rs in the coming election, ADULT FEMALE SURVIVORS — s EXUAL ABUSE of SUPPORT GROUP. | May 18 to July 6 Tuesday Evening 7pm-9 pm For further information please contact Bea Richar d 635-4042 Karen Walker 635-4042 Before May 14, 1993 K’SAN HOUSE SOCIETY THE TERRACE INN GiGi's EL LOCO May 3-15 Maclean Auggies SY STERRIT May 13, 14 & 15 & Maclean at GiGi’s " Tuesda y; May 25 ee 635-6630. © Cindy Koopmans _. . Congratulations to Mavis, Bunnie & Cindy - ..on thelr success in competition at the recent _. 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