-brecht and a

NDP getting

rough

A GROUP OF northwest union
members has started a campaign

ride
death of the Kemano project
ended hopes of hundreds of union

The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, February 15, 1995 - A3

News
In Brief

to cut off the financial support constructlon members who were ij i
organized labour traditionally cither working on the project Nominations
gives the NDP, when it was shut down or ex- needed

Group organizer Allan Grier
sald the NDP government no
longer represents rank and file
union members, particularly those

_ inthe northwest.

“The move to cut off financial
support got its spark when the
NDP kilied the Kemano Comple-
tion Project the end of January.

And it took hold after a Jan. 31
demonstration by union members
in front of Skeena NDP MLA
Helmut Giesbrecht’s office.

To date group members come
from six unions affiliated with the
BC. and Yukon Building Trades
Council and the B.C. Federation
of Labour.

“We're hoping to get as many
members as possible who are dis-
gusted with what the NDP has
done to us,”’ said Grier.

‘This is our way of getting our
message down to our brothers in
the south.”

pected to work there.

“These same people will end
up on unemployment insurance.
They might be lucky enough to
find trivial part time jobs else-
where. If not, they and their
spouses and children will be on
welfare,”’ said Grier.

The group is also Worried about
another conlentious issue — so-
called ‘‘rat unions’’.

These are unions not affiliated
with mainline Jabour and have
been criticized for being friendly
to employers and for paying
lower wages and benefits than
called for in mainline contracts.

Grier said union members are
disappointed the NDP govern-
ment hasn’t taken action against
these kinds of unions.

Tied to that is the number of
out-of-province contractors work-
ing in B.C. who bring in workers
from elsewhere.

Teamsters union shop steward
Al Smith from Kitimat said the

Smith predicted,
“A few of us are looking at

SLOGAN ON BACK of jacket |

peint of Allan Grier loud and
clear. He’s cne of a group of

THE PROVINCIAL govern-
ment is looking for candidates
for its Order of British
Columbia. The award is the
province’s highest and. recog-
nizes outstanding achieve-.
ments, excellence or distinc-
tion in a person’s field of
endeavour.

Nominations are now being
teceived for the 1995 list of
Order of B.C. recipients and
the deadline is March 9.

An independent advisory
council, chaired by the Chief
Justice of B.C., makes recom-’
mendations based on nomina-
tions received. .

The Order of B.C. has been:
granted to 80 British Colum-
bians since 1980,

Nomination forms are avail-
able from the local govern-
ment agent’s office in the ac-

_ cess centre on the corner of

Group members belong to car- “The union leaders must now group won't ask union members supporting the Reform party,’” he .
penters, ironworkers, operating stand up and be accountable to to support any particular party, said. " par'y local union members upset _ Eby and Lazelle,
engineers, plumbers and pipefit- and support the rank and file justnotiosupportthe NDP. | Grier bought a membership ast with the NOP over a number of . Mill id
ters, boiler makers and teamster workers, just as they have been ‘They haven’t done a damn week in the provincial Reform ihe Ke including the killing of Wer aide
union locals in the northwest. supported by the workers,”’ said thing for jobs for the men and party. 3 the emano project ie ans has new job
“This is not a push by the lo Grier. women of the northwest,” said “It’s the first political party withhe | d fina or un aly 9
cals, It’s the members who are “The — executives must Smith of the NDP. D’ve belonged to in my life,” he old tinancial suppart from =| AN AIDE to Northcoast MLA

taking action,’’ said Grier.
Gricr, a carpenter, said the

denounce the NDP and hold back
any future financial support.”’

NDP MLA tangles

WHAT LOOKS like to be a fam-
ily feud is shaping up between
Skeena NDP MLA Helmut Gies-
local labour
organizer,

It began after union members,
considered traditional supporters
of the NDP, gathered in front of
Giesbrecht’s Park Ave. office
Jan. 31 to protest the killing of
the Kemano Completion Project.

They also complained about
jobs being taken by people fom
outside of the province.

The labour organizer, Fred

Glover of the B.C. and Yukon. .

Territory Construction and Build-
ing Trades Council, then wrote a

TERRACE

“The Original Membership Savings Store!”

All Terrace Co-op Members will receive 10% off
all regular price fabric, notions and patterns.

This is everyday, not just this week!
eS _ BROADCLOTH

g 3 $95

Everyday low price

/POLY STUFFING

~~ No yearly membership: to buy, just show your Co-op -
~ membership card at the cash register and “Save, Save, Save!”

Check the fabric department for many more savings to members! _

letter to council president Len
Werden about Giesbrecht.

“Giesbrecht could have used a
litle diplomacy and tact and
would not have received such a
hot reception if he had done so,”
wrote Glover,

Giesbrecht also wrote Werden,
saying ‘‘I do not intend to con-
linually be harassed only because
T represent a convenient target for
him to get media coverage. Fred
keeps telling me it is nothing per-
sonal but he seems intent on
defeating the government.”

_ Glover objected 1 to.Giesbrecht’s ;

Some disaffected union mem-
bers may work for other parties,

with local

not by himself.

And he criticized a sentence in
which Giesbrecht said Glover
voted for the Liberals in the last
federal election.

‘It’s none of his business how I
vote, And [’m not going to tell
you how J vote, People have a
tight to vote for who they
please,’’ be said.

Glover did acknowledge that he
is a heavy critic of the NDP
government and has had constant
contact with Giesbrecht on labour
issues.

#Heé,said he’s disappointed.so far

letter, ‘saying “the” protest’ was with the ‘performance...0f “the

organized by union members and |

Goon}

provincial ‘government’ on Jabour ~~

CO-OP

$

Regular $4.95

99

1 Ib. bag

400% COTTON FLEECE

‘14°

\ Some stock now available. More colours t
o arrive shortly, Matching ribbing
& intertack also available.

said. “Tl do anything to defeat
the NDP.”

the NDP, their traditional ally.

labour organizer

matters,

“My job is to represent the
working people, no matter who is
in government,” Glover added.

Giesbrecht said he has con-
sistently and constantly presented
labour issues to the goverament,

“In terms of the record, this
government has done more for
labour than any other,’ said
Giesbrecht.

‘You get somewhat frustrated
when people are protesting in
front of my office and dan’t ga ta
anybody else,’ he continued.

"(North -Coast NDP..MLA Dan)
“Miller's office is 85.miles’ down
the road. ‘Why don’tthey try-his

robo MIts Onie

office, Instead they beat on the -

supporters they have.”’
Giesbrecht realized that con-

struction union members are frus-

trated because more and more
work is being done by non-union
members or by people from out-
side the province.

And he said he’s raised the is-
sue of so-called employer friend-
ly unions with the government.

“It’s said that you've got to be

‘able to take the heat and have a

thick skin,’? said Giesbrecht.

‘That's fine but don’t confuse —

that with volunteering .to “be: a
doormat..for: any” group. ‘i'm .just
fighting back, that’s all.’ +.

and skills, training and labour. -

minister Dan Miller has a new.
job.

Michacl Riesborough is
now the regional economic
development manager for the
.]| provincial government’s small
business, tourism and culture
ministry.

He’s based in the ministry’ s
regional office here in Terrace

and is working with ministry :

economic development af-
ficers located in various com-
munities throughout the
northwest.

Riesborough’s hiring ends a
search for a regional manager
which stretched back to last
year.

Before working for Mille er in
his Prince Rupert office, Ries-

borough was the government: “f
agent in Cassiar:- bE ES ian

& tb &©E¥ isk t+ Ow

LIFETIME |

iE
TERRACE CO-OP HOME CENTRE TERRACE CO-OP DEPARTMENT STORE 7.
2912 Molitor St. 4617 Graig Ave. Lottery Can |
‘ . + Lottery Centre :
STORE HOURS: * Graceries STORE HOURS: ‘trdrre ! |
MONDAY THRU SATU DAY , Family » Sporting Goods “AS promised i
OPEN SUNDAYS 11:00 AM - 4 PM + Post Oiféce a.m. * Apptances & :
635-9595 635-6347 a Electronic Fu utures Bringing The Best of | Home. . t
ae - Entertainment t to You ke
BULK PLANT CO-OP FARM & GARDEN CENTRE GAS BAA eee |
4821 Hwy. 16 4617 Greig Ave, 4821 Hwy. 16
BULK PLANT HOURS STORE HOURS; . Man. no BAR HOURS “apm :
manna a0 Pedy rernccoegam-gpm | | |fwagay RFeeayan gaan. ea 4710 Keith Ave, Mal
9:00 ain ot pm. SUNY wectesnseeenee 11:00 A.M. » 5 P.M. Terrace, B.C.. V8G.4Kt
635-7419 B35-6237 635-7419 —_ a