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Wednesday March 7, 2001 THE OAKVILLE BEAVER A5 Form er S y l Apps workers g et som e o f m oney owed by Province By Kim A rnott SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER vs W IN T E R C L E A R A N C E If You Need Ice Insurance You'll N eed Future Flames TAKE ADVANTAGE OF 2 0 0 0 PRICING IN 2 0 0 1 . The cheque is in the mail -- finally. About 90 current and former employees at Syl Apps Youth Centre will soon be receiving sever ance payments owed to them as a result of the provincial government's privatization of the Oakville facility more than three months ago. At a hearing in Toronto last week, the Province agreed to immediately pay a portion of the sever ance money owed to employees who left the public service when the young offender facility was trans ferred to the private sector. "At least I'm not going to lose my house now," said Barb Pollard, a former security control officer at the centre who left on Nov. 29. The cheque that Pollard receives this week will only amount to about half of the money the gov ernment owes her, but at least it will temporarily get creditors off her back, she says. The money has been tied up as a result of a dis pute between the Province and the union represent ing employees at the centre. After the province transferred Syl Apps to a pri vate operator, the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) argued that the gov ernment did not properly abide by a section of the collective agreement requiring the new employer to honour the seniority of transferring employees. Following a formal hearing, the Grievance Settlement Board agreed with OPSEU. That left the union and the government in pro longed discussions over how to resolve the matter. The government initially said it wouldn't pay any severance money until negotiations with the union resolved the issue, as a settlement could affect those payments. However, last week it voluntarily agreed to pay what it owes in legislative severance, which is the money employees are entitled to under provincial labour law. Still owing will be enhanced severance pay ments that former employees will receive under the terms of their collective agreement. Depending on their years of service as a govern ment employee, most people are owed a total of about $30,000 to $45,000. The government's hold-up in paying out the money has made Laura Morrison very angry. Morrison, a security control officer who took the government's severance package, but has since been rehired at Syl Apps, believes the money was withheld as a way of putting pressure on negotia tions. "What the government is doing is using the sev erance as a bargaining tool to make the union buck le," she says. "It's just another way for Mike Harris to get back at the unions." Although Morrison says she recognizes that the public often doesn't have much sympathy for pub lic sector employees, she says they are simply ask ing for what they are owed. "We just want what anyone else would want -- the government to live up to its agreements," says Morrison. Although some money will still be outstanding after cheques go out this week, at least the govern ment is moving in the right direction, says Don Ford, communications officer with OPSEU. "It's a bit of a sigh of relief that we actually have some money coming to those people who left and aren't working," he said. Later this month, an arbitrator with the Grievance Settlement Board will consider the issue of the remaining owed severance payments. (^ fir e p la c e s MAJESTIC. Gas fireplaces will work even when there is a power failure! .o f f/ . 0 . Financing available B k . through Union Energy mmJ FUTURE FLAMES CAN CUSTOM DESIGN & INSTALL THE MANTEL OF YOUR CHOICE 406 Speers Rd. across from Lansing Buildall FAMILY OWNED AND OPERATED SINCE 1986 338*WARM (9276) WALL V is it o u r w e b s ite a t w w w .fu tu r e fla m e s .c o m W e'll buy yo u r kid s' s tu ff, w e'll sell you kid s' stu ff. We're stocking up fo r the spring season, so bring in your gently used, nearly new kids brand name clothing, toys, furniture, equipment, and more. We'll pay on the spot for items accepted. T h at's the w hole O nce Upon a Child® idea: we buy and sell both used and new children's items for people like you so we can provide exceptional values for people like you. ® HANGINGS · DRESSERS Armed robbers sought in Shell heist Police are seeking the public's help in arresting two men responsible for an armed robbery of the Shell Gas Station, 2680 Sheridan Garden Dr., on Feb. 1. At about 11:10 p.m. two males entered the gas station kiosk and on of the males produced a handgun ordering the lone attendant to hand over the cash from the till. The parties received an amount of cash and fled the scene on foot. They were last seen running in a northeasterly direction towards Winston Churchill Boulevard and Bromsgrove Road. Police and the canine unit searched the area with negative results. No injuries were sustained. Description of suspects: -- Male, black, 19 years old, six-feet twoinches tall with a thin build. He was wearing a · CHANGING CRIME STOPPERS Call 825-TIPS or 1-800-668-5151 white bandana over his face and a black bandana on his head. -- Male, black 19 years old. five-feet 10-inches tall with a thin build. He had his face covered with a bandana. No further description. Armed with a handgun. If you have any information that leads to an arrest in this or any other matter, you may be eli gible for a cash reward. You need not give your name when you tell us your information and you will remain anonymous. Crime Stoppers does not subscribe to the telephone call display feature. Call 1-800-222-TIPS or 825-TIPS (825-8477) TABLES · SHOES § ] t c e U p o n a C h ild K i d 's S t u f f w i t h P r e v i o u s E x p e r ie n c e TM · CAR 2423 Trafalgar Rd. (Lobiaws piaza) SEATS (905) 2 5 7 -5 7 7 5 · G AM ES · LAM PS · O U T D O O R P L A Y E Q U IP M E N T · G A M E S · L A M P S A c o r n T a x S e r v i c e s , In c . T a k i n g a d v a n t a g e o f all th e d e d u c t i o n s a v a ila b le to y o u p P R I N G Spring is the tim e to let loose. And sw ing dance is the perfect w ay to have fun and stay fit. Call the dance p rofessionals at Fred Astaire D ance Studios. They'll show you how to put sw ing in your step this spring. H e a th e r M cK erg o w 905 827 0718 1 2 % D i s c o u n t f o r S e n i o r C itiz e n s R e a s o n a b le f e e s C u r r e n t w it h C C R A S® S e r v ic e in h o m e Y e a r r o u n d s e r v ic e Sp rin g Sp ecial 5 h o u rs fo r $ 2 5 L e a r n w ith o r w ith o u t a p a r tn e r " L i m i t e d to f ir s t 3 5 c a lle r s Eating out tonight? Make a smart choice. For healthy choices, food safety and more non-smoking seating choose one o f these Halton Eat Smart! restaurants the next time you dine out! 225 Lakeshore Road East 2nd Floor D o w n to w n O akville 1 block w est o f Trafalgar Rd. (Entrance from both Lakeshore Road and parking lot off Church Street) 8 4 2 -3 7 9 7 w w w .fre d a s ta ire .c o m ` N e w a d u lt s tu d e n ts o n ly DANCE STUDIOS® TAK E Y O U R F U T U R E IN H A N D Next program starts M onday, Halton s Eat Smart! Restaurants Benny's Famous Deli 905-878-8858 295 Main Street Milton Cafe Cantina A . 905-632-9779 1455 Lakeshore Rd., Burlington Canneberges Restaurant 0 905-877-1923 126 Main Street. Georgetown Pepperwood Bistro 61 905-333-6999 1455 Lakeshore Rd., Burlington Ruby's Vegetarian Vegan Restaurant 905-842-6112 325 Kerr Street. Oakville 0 A . Subway Acton @ A i 519-853-5531 10 B Main Street Acton Subway Sandwiches & Salads 0 6 > 905-873-6568 5 Mountainview N. Georgetown Thai Satay & More 9 6> 187 Cross Avenue, Oakville The Harrop Restaurant 345 Steeles Avenue, Milton Tim Bri Tea House 9 A , 40 Eastern Avenue, Acton Turtle Jack's A. 4155 Fairview Street Burlington Williams Coffee Pub 9 A , 2070 Appleby Line, Burlington World Bistro 9 A 67 Bronte Road, Oakville 9 100% Smoke-free 905-338-7934 905-878-8161 519-853-5231 905-633-9464 905-319-0968 905-465-2668 Manufacturing Technology Thecente'n /Of Women Burlington O u r established program s prepare w om en to work in a high-salaried occupation in Electrical or Precision M achining and Tooling. P rogram O utline 3 0 w e e k s in -c la s s t h e o r y a n d h a n d s - o n t r a i n i n g w i t h q u a l i f i e d , c e r t i f i e d a n d e x p e r i e n c e d in s t r u c t o r s 2 0 w e e k p a id jo b p la c e m e n t w it h e m p lo y e rs f o r o n -t h e j o b e x p e rie n c e P l a c e m e n t o f f i c e r t o a s s is t i n f i n d i n g f u l l - t i m e e m p lo y m e n t T o o ls , te x tb o o k s a n d s a fe ty e q u ip m e n t g iv e n t o e a c h s t u d e n t 4, Barrier-free access O nthedateofinspectionfortheE at Sm art! aw ard , all restaurantslistedinthisguidem etall requiredcriteriafo rn utrition, foodsafetyandnon-sm okingseatin g . For good health, great taste and convenience when dining out look for the Eat Smart! symbol. ( a p p r o x i m a t e v a l u e $ 1 0 0 0 .0 0 ) Tuition assistance is available to qualified candidates. _ Call today to attend a FREE Information Session Eaf ft Smart! fS Ontario's Healthy Restaurant Program Canadian S o d tt* Cancer car Society du w For m ore inform ation contact Is a b e l W e b b - (9 0 5 ) 3 3 3 -3 4 9 9 /8 7 8 -1 2 4 0 or visit our w ebsite at w w w .th ecen tre.o n .ca T h e C en tre is leading W o m e n 's T ra d e Training in O ntario. This is our 4th w o m e n 's pre-apprenticeship program . In partnership with the O ntario W om en's D irectorate & The G overnm ent o f Ontario m T h e G e n tr e To find a complete listing of Halton's Eat Smart! restaurants or for more information about Eat Smart! Ontario's Healthy Restaurant program visit: w w w .ch o ice s4 h e a lth .o rg /ea tsm a rt.h tm o r w w w .eatsm art.w eh .n et Skills Development & 1Kilning We KNOW w here the jobs are!