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A10 - The Terrace Standard,

Wednesday, June 3, 1998

BABIES BONINA, left, and Amanda joined mothers Shelly Haynes-Marrelli and
Andrea Ainscow at a B.C, Government and Service Employees Union study ses-

‘sion last week. Haynes-Marrelli and Ainscow work for the Ksan House Society
‘ which is in a contract dispute with the union over benefits,

Workers turn down.
benefit cut proposal

UNIONIZED WORKERS
at a local social services
agency say their employer
wants to gut sick leave and
‘other benefits.

And Ksan House Society
workers hope a. two-hour
study session May 28, now
being followed up by a
dobby campaign, will regult
‘in a contract that’l] protect
those benefits.

But the society says the
number of B.C. Government
and ‘Service Employees
tnion members on its
benefit plan and the cost has
climbed beyond what it can
afford,

Last week’s study session
came after the union issued
72-hour strike notjce.

_The parties have so far
been unsuccessful in negoti-
ating a contract to replace
-one which ended March 31,

- 1997,

” They’re keying on short
ferm sick leave, long term
dfsability ¢ and dental plans,

The society now pays 100
per cent of the premiums of
the sick leave and disabifity
portions and 60 per cent for
basic dental.

But union. rep Shelley
Anderson says the society
wants to cut what it'll pay to
50 per cent for all three,
leaving workers to make up

e difference,

“These are people who
make $12 to $14 an hour
and these are good benefits.
To make concessions would
cost them,”’ said Anderson,

“Once you lose denefils,
it’s hard to get them back,”’
: As well, the society wants
to change existing contract
language making it more
difficult for casual workers
to be classified as full time
employees and therefore be
eligible for benefits.

Bill Nelson of the Com-
munity Social Services
Employers’ Association,
which bargains for the
sociely, says it can’t afford
the cost of the plan.

Death
by drugs

' A MAN who died April 20
did ‘so because of a heroin
overdose, indicates a
coroner's report.

Terrace RCMP are still in-
vestigating wittre Larry
Pouglas Smith, 56, obtained
the fatal dose of heroin.

They do know he was’ in’
Prince Rupert in an area fre~
quented by addicts there the
night before he died.

Staff Sgt. Doug Wheeler
said that Smith wasn’t
known to be 1 heroin addict,
And that heroin wasn’t his
dsug of choice.

While heroin is a problem
In Prince Rupert, Terrace
RCMP said it isn’t consider-
eda major concem here.

: “—vs here, but ‘it hasn't
surfaced often,’’ said Staff
Set, Wheeler.

' Prince Rupert had the
highest per capita’ heroin

& population from 1989-1993.

fis your campfire
completely out?

_
paces

Bau May oroes 0. ,

*The plan was originally
designed for 11 people but
that has increased by more
than 39 per cent,’’ said Nel-
son.

Premiums have also
jumped from $125 a month
to $375 a month per em-
ployee.

That brings the cost of the
plan to more than $81,000 a
year, a figure which wil] put
the, society into bankmptcy
if it continues, said Nelson.

“The society has a deficit
it can’t pay for and it is at--
tempting to address it,”’ he
added.

What the society wants is

to continue to provide bene-
fits to all employecs with
the latler recognizing that
the level of benefits might

not be what they were be-
_ fore, said Nelson. .

Ksan House Society
workers have been
unionized since the mid-
1970s and this is the first
time a contract dispute has
golten this far.

The society operates a

* transilion bouse for battered

women and their children,
an emergency homeicss
shelter, counselling services
and a centre for sexual as-
sault viclims.

NOTICE
CITY OF TERRACE
SUMMER HOURS

City of Terrace operations will be
on Summer Hours as follows:

JUNE 1, 1998 TO SEPTEMBER 4, 1998
City Hall OFFICE 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Public Works OFFICE 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

WORK CREWS _ *7:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Parks & OFFICE 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Recreation PARKS CREWS 7:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
| FACILITIES AS POSTED
*Please note that garbage will be collected
earlier during the day due to summer hours.
E.R. Halisor
Clerk-Administrator

Images By Karlene
Congratulates Bunnie!

for her success at the recent
Pacific Northwest Regional
Hairshow.

* 2Indin Mens Visual Haircut

* Ind in Womens Technical Haircut

* Ist in Fantasy

Overall points award
for 1998

Congratulations also goes to Lisa Smith for receiving first place in the “Blindfold
Combout Contest.” “We always knew you could do it with your eyes closed!”

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