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BEST AVAILABLE COPY at It Mil THE HERALD MarckK Metroland union negotiate as strike deadline approaches the Herald The editorial staff at the Georgetown Independent and the Acton Free Press could go on strike as early as am day That when the staff s union the Unit of the Southern Ontano Newspapers Guild which has members in newspapers is in a legal strike position And per cent of the union membership present at a meeting Sunday night in Toronto voted to give the union the power to call a strike if no agreement is reached by early Fn day morning employees have been without a contract since Dec Union and management negotiating teams are currently taking part in a marathon media bargaining seassion which started Tuesday morning and could run until Friday at a m said the union steward for the Independent and the Free Press Dan Ralph The two sides have met about a dozen times since early December and there are still about items on the negotiating table said Mr Ralph I have no idea if we 11 go on strike but we ve been cautioned to be ready Mr Ralph said in an in Monday But these things have a way of being taken care of in the eleventh hour he added Brenda Biller s director of human resources seemed to agree with Mr Ralph saying we re far apart but that s not unusual The two sides settled on the first contract in 1987 after the stnke deadline had passed Salanes is one major issue separating the two sides said Mr Ralph The union is asking for a one- year contract calling for a per cent increase in a senior reporter salary and a 24 per cent increase in a senior editor salary Mr Ralph said a senior reporter with a minimum of four years ex perience currently earns a week and the union is asking for an increase to The union also wants the weekly salary of a senior editor one with a minimum of two years experience to increase from 615 to Management is offering a three- year contract with salary in creases of 5 per cent in the first two years and per cent m the third year said Ms Biller Some people have a misconcep tion that the union wants wage with the Toronto Star said Mr Ralph TorStar owns the Toronto Star and the Metroland chain Mr Ralph says the union is ask fng for salaries to move closer In line with reporters working for small dailies such as the Brentford Expositor A senior reporter working for the Brantford Expositor earns about a week he said The use of freelance reporters is the other major issue said Steve the chairman of the unit of the union He argues that instead of filling vacant reporter positions with another reporter the company uses freelancers or students Freelancers t entitled to benefits and students work for free said Mr And the com MARYS Dressmaking Alterations THE BANK MAIN ST S pany weakens the bargaining power of the union by these two types of labor said Mr Ralph Mr Pecar said the union has tried to move the talks forward but management refuses to change its position But Ms Biller said this simply true The company has sug many changes on several of the proposals she said But she was unwilling to say what the pro posed changes were I not going to negotiate through the press she said Mr Pecir said Monday he didn know if the talks this week would stall but he did say it is up to tht company to come to us It unlikely Metroland would be able to publish its newspapers in the event of a said Mr But Ms Biller said the manage ment of each newspaper would put out their publications Metroland newspapers in this area include the two servicing Halton Hills the Brampton Guar dian the Milton Champion the Beaver the Burlington Post and the News Although publishes the Rockwood Review and the Enn they would be unaffected by a strike These newspapers are published by union people said Mr Ralph Mr Pecar t reveal any specifics but he said the union had a strategy to prevent any of the newspapers from being published And if ne were published tlity would be scab labor products filled with tides on such topics as gardening he said Mr said the union has the support of the readers and tisers of newspapers We ve presented our case to the advertisers and they seem to agree that we re not getting a fair shake He hopes advertisers will revoke their advertising in the event of a TVSAfcE If youve been wishing for a deal on a great TV your wish has been granted with the RCA RUBITTHERIGHT WAY SALE Just come to TV purchase one of the selected RCA TV models and ask for a Rub Me The Right Way card Rub the cash rebate panel and see if you earned 20 40 or 100 You can also save on an RCA VCR OFFER VALID FROM MARCH to TV UPTO ioaoo REBATE Offer valid on the following RCA TV models and F2604IDG Offer valid on RCA VCR Model VR Leather stores charged Acton businesses West Wearhouse and Plight Line were once again charged under the Retail Business Holidays Act after being open this past Sunday The two businesses divisions of the Hide House were the only two In the Region charged under the act for being open on Sunday An April court date has been scheduled in connec tion with the charges A provincial court judge Milton decided Monday to postpone a scheduled court hear ing involving the Acton businesses for being charged earlier this year under the until April 23 Meanwhile in an Court of Appeal case heard Monday in Toronto the court ruled that a Region no longer requires toe On tario Attorney General s to obtain a dosing order for repeat offenders of the act Regions legal services commis sioner Mark Meneray said in an in terview Tuesday morning The decision will allow us to act more expeditiously against business owners who abuse the he said Before the Appeal Court the attorney general had to review a Region s arguments and evidence it would use to justify closing a store on Sundays before any action could be taken explain ed Mr Meneray MOTHERS YOUR CHILDREN S FEET ARE IMPORTANT CHECK NOW TO SEE IF THEY HAVE OUTGROWN THEIR BACK TO SCHOOL SHOES WILDCATS The Super Tough Sneakers That Youngsters Have Trouble Wearing Out IN STOCK NOW AT FLETCHERS FOR SPRING BREAK WILDCAT KEEBLER Pmk or While Sizes 8 to FLETCHERS THE FOOT 8771664 MAIN ST FAMILY SH0IS ice DOWNTOWN GEORGETOWN