2 Terrace Review — Wednesday, September 7, 1988 War of words continues over Terraceview project The Terraceview Lodge ex- tended care project has been declared ‘‘unfair’? ‘by B.C./Yukon Building Trades Council president Len Werden. According to Werden, there are two major concerns with the project — the General Workers Union (GWU), which he says doesn’t represent the workers at all, and the government's policy of accepting the lowest bid on: public contracts. by Tod Strachan The General Workers’ Union failed in a certification bid at the Kermodei Construction site on Aug. 24, but because there was no objection from the company the Industrial Relations Council (IRC) ruled on Aug. 30 that the union could reapply for cer- tification. The second vote took place on Aug. 31 and the GWU was accepted on the Kermodei work site on a province-wide basis. Werden said section 49 of the Industrial Relations Act (IRA) allows a union to reapply for certification in less than 90 days if “the employer doesn’t have any problem with it’. And in this case, he says, ‘‘the employer obviously wouldn’t have a pro- blem with it, and that just once more points out the domination of this so-called union by the employer’’. He explained. that an agree- Kermodei files low bid for airport project Kermodei Terrace has put in the low bid of $2,529,150 to build the new combined services building at the Terrace-Kitimat Airport, ac- cording to Ministry of Transport, « project manager Frank Geyer. He says a contract has not yet been awarded, however, because the size of the project calls fora review of all tenders in Ottawa prior to making the decision. Geyer said there were two other tenders filed on the project: Ter- race H & H-> Builders at $2,579,630, and Vic Van Isle Construction of Revelstoke at $2,668,891. ' The new 1,500 square meter combined services building will replace a number: of smaller buildings built during World War Il and provide space for airport firefighting personnel and equipment as well as Transport Canada’s general maintenance crew. Geyer says he hopes to have Ottawa’s decision . within the next two weeks so construction can begin this fall. Another project to upgrade the local airport terminal bag- gage handling facilities is cur- rently in the design stage. Air- port manager Darryl Laurent says that it could possibly pro- ceed next year, Construction of © ment which has been in place between the government and the trade unions since the early 1950’s describes the type of work force-that each trade union is permitted to organize. But the GWU, he says, is the only union permitted by the government to. organize every type of worker on the job site into a single unit. Werden says that the trades. council has since labelled the site “unfair”? and that under the af- filiation clause ‘that most. building trades have, union workers will not be obligated to work with non-union people or “members of this so-called union’’, | “It’s a company-dominated union which the workers have | absolutely no say in with respect to conditions or wages,’’ ex- plains Werden. ‘The benefits and the wage packages that they’re negotiating are con- siderably substandard to what they are in the organized sector.’” Werden attacked both the federal and provincial govern- ment for their policy of awar- ding contracts to the low bidder. “In recent months it shows very Work continues at site At press time yesterday, work on the Terraceview Lodge ex- tended care unit continued in spite of threats of union action by -the B.C./Yukon Building Trades Council. Dave’s Plumb- ing’ and Twin River Electric, both of Terrace, have contracts with Kermodei Construction and work on the electrical and plumbing systems began yester- Date Hi Lo Prec. Aug.29 15.4105 1.2mm Aug.30 16.7 11.7 0.2mm § Aug.31 165.011.5 0.6mm Sept. 1 22.2 11.1 trace Sept. 2 27.8 11.5 nil Sept. 3 29.9 14.4 nil Sept. 4 26.7 13.3 ni! Aug. 22- Aug. 28 SS ee Boh clearly that this policy of low bid in fact is not in the best interest of the taxpayers of this -pro- vince. In the lower mainland § we've had a number of publicly fe funded projects that have cost’ dramatically more than the con- tracted price, and that comes out of the taxpayers’ pockets — even though they were low bid to start with.” Werden claims that any ‘non- union contractor can calculate a union contractor’s probably bid by simply using available com- puter software and then drop the price by one or two percent. He says that this means most government contracts are won by non-union firms and this is hurting both the industry and the workers. . “‘This policy that was started in 1983 in this province by Bill Bennett to de-unionize the con- struction industry,’? -he says. ‘But it has resulted in things happening in this province and I think there has been a con- siderable drop in confidence in the work that’s being done in our construction industry. That’s not a union/non-union issue — it’s a fact of life.”’ B.C./Yukon Building Trades Council president Len Werden says the method by. which the General Workers’ Union became certified at the Kermodel Construction work site is day. unfalr and union workers don’t have to work at the site. Local Carpenter's Union business agent Paul Johnston Ff says he is satisfied, however, . that no union workers were on the site. He said that after visiting the work site Tuesday |) morning he found only manage- ment personnel from Dave’s Plumbing on the job. Forecast: Wednesday, Forecast Pertod: 9/11 -9/17/88 mostly cloudy with rain developing by evening. Thursday, cloudy with rain. Friday and Saturday, most- ARIES Turn your attention to matters of health and hy- Mar. 21-Apr. 19 giene. This is especially important where occu- pational responsibilities are concerned. TAURUS Anoverprotectiveattitude with a loved onecaus- ly cloudy with showers. Apr. 20-May20 es friction. Loosen upa little. Be caring, but don’t Afternoon highs 14 to 16 smother. and overnight lows from 8 GEMINI "You'll find the solitude you're seeking right in to 10. May 2I-June20 the heart of home. How wonderful is the peace- * fullhaven. Weather report CANCER Casual conversations have an emotional depth . June 2t-July22 that makes them very meaningful. You seem to “feel” the unspoken. — LEO Though far from home, you are surrounded by - Ae clean with oa July 23-Aug.22 familiar objects that are vital to your sense of security. | Whiartever you wear » V ve, Rickards Cleaners Men's or Ladies’ cotton blend dress or business shirts expertly laundered -Drop off point at Thornhill Market -Best, most Reliable and Cleanest Service around -Only DRIVE—THRU in town 9:00 o.m.- 6:60 p.rm.-Mondoy to Friday $=30 a.m,-3:36 p.m.-Saturday KIDDIE CORNER FROM THE POST OFFICE - VIRGO Aug. 23-Sept, 22 ° Be objective when dealing with others. Concern for self can cloud the mind to the other person’s needs, LIBRA Unconscious attitudes and fears can be hard to Sepi.23-Oct,22 handle. Confide your fears to one you camtrust. SCORPIO _ Review your time plan for achieving short range Oct, 23-Nov. 21 goals, Revise where necessary arid get things mov- ingintherightdirection. ~ The new Moon on Sunday will put you in touch with the public—professional matters become more personalized, Study, or mental journeys, could take you to dis- tant shores while the body ‘enjoys familiar sur- _roundings. Day dreaming? Emotional experiences can be much more intense than usual, You are very supportive of groups and social peers. Joint arrangements are subject to change. Delay . action. Let the first move come from imate ¢ or * pariner. " SAGITTARIUS Nov. 22-Dec, 21 \ CAPRICORN Dec. 22-Jan. 19 AQUARIUS. Jan. 20-Feb. 18 PISCES Feb. 19-Mar, 20