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SOT a Town says contract means wage rise Statements explaining the Town of Midland's position on a new contract with its OPSEU-member employees emphasize wage increases and "in- dustrial peace." In a statement intended to be released in time for last Friday's edition, a 15 per cent wage increase over three years was em- Union Now that contract negotiation has broken own, OPSEU will take its case to the public, the leader of the OPSEU member Town of Midland employees says. The Town is a big step ahead of the union in making public statements about contract negotiation. Union Local President Bill Scott says that the phasized. (The release came too late for last Fri- day's edition.) The statement designed to follow, for today's edi- tion, presents the Town's version of a new contract as a means "'to bring in- dustrial peace to the Town and its employees." The Town's tabled con- tract included a wage in- crease of five per cent in 1987, 1988 and 1989. "The Town of Midland has always been a generous employer," Councillor Carolyn White, Town labour relations chairman was quoted as saying. ""We expect our employees to give us a good day's work and we do noi propose to nickel and dime the people who we rely on to give service to the Town." "In 1985 the present council was elected on a promise to cut the cost of operating the Town, but we do not propose to do it on the backs of our loyal employees." Industrial peace is the theme of the second press will speak out now, union might bring in a public relations expert. The union feels free to publicize its side now that negotiation apparently has ended, he said. Negotiation did not go well either between the two sides alone, or with a mediator. The Town had announc- ed its position through a written statement, and a Help appreciated Chuck Fraser and the staff at Little Lake Service Cen- tre Ltd. are some of the people recognized for their contribution to the local St. John Ambulance Brigade. report by the Town's chief negotiator, Alderman Carolyn White, during a council meeting. After a negotiation deadlock led to a request for a government-supplied mediator, White in a press release put the blame for lack of progress on the union. The union "simply would not discuss wor- ding"' in the expired con- tract which the Town is determined to have chang- ed, she said in the June 2 press release. Two more statements were issued by the Town last Friday, after both sides asked the Ministry of Labour-supplied mediator to file a no board report. A strike can begin 14 days after receipt by the Fraser, left, and other individuals and groups, received a certificate last Friday from local Brigade chairman John Gignac, right. Ambulance brigade thanks friends Friends of the Midland-Penetanguishene St. John Ambulance Brigade were thanked last Friday. Chairman of the board John Gignac delivered cer- tificates of appreciation to Gord Key, administrator of Huronia District Hospital; radio station CKMP; Chuck Fraser and the staff at Little Lake Service Cen- tre; Holder's Bakery; Sheila Bassett; the members of the Town of Pene- tanguishene's council; Nick Boudouris; and Jim Blackwell. Key, the administrator of Huronia District Hospital, offered the Brigade assistance to obtain both meeting and storage space at the hospital. CKMP was thanked for assistance in providing news about Brigade func- tions and fundraising activities. Chuck Fraser and his staff kept the Brigade's mobile first aid post on the road. Holder's Bakery donated cakes for the Brigade to sell. Sheila Bassett made ar- rangements for the Brigade to obtain facilities for meetings and first aid training at Huronia District Hospital. Penetanguishene council provided accommodation for the Brigade at the cor- ner of Water Street and Scott Street. Nick Boudouris provided coffee, hot chocolate and food to Brigade members while they were on duty at Junior C hockey games in Penetanguishene. Jim Blackwell organized a St. John Ambulance day at McDonald's and donated $750 from the pro- ceeds of the day. release. It begins, Town of Midland has pro- posed to the union representing its regular workers that new and revised collective agreements will aim to bring industrial peace to the Town and _ its employees." "The present contracts are so sloppily worded that it is uncertain just what they mean, as a result the Town's taxpayers and union members are having to pay the enormous price of a rash of grievances and arbitrations," Councillor White says in the press release. The council was elected "by and large' on a plat- form of cost-cutting, but Scott says Minister of Labour of a no board report. Councillor Gail Barrie, vice-chairman of the Town labour relations commit- tee, offered a third press release intended for publication this coming Friday, on the condition it be held until Friday. Councillor Barrie called the newspaper last Thurs- day prepared to read a statement from the Town, but too late for a story in last Friday's paper. because of the present wor- ding of contracts, the means by which the Town is permitted to save its tax- payers money is in doubt, is the Town's position. "How long can the tax- payers of Midland con- tinue to pay people for whom there is no work to do? An ordinary short ar- bitration costs the tax- payers of Midland between $4,000 and $5,000 plus staff time, and no doubt it is costing the union members just as much. This is no way to run a town: We need a new era of in- dustrial peace and we will only get it when union- management rights are clearly stated in the con- tract and fully understood by both,"' Councillor White was quoted as saying. Town says contract costs The Town of Midland is using an arbitration case which the union lost as an example of why the con- tracts binding the two must be rewritten. "When the taxpayers have to pay out $4,000 to $5,000 for an arbitration just because the title of a department head was changed, things have gone too far,'"' chief negotiator for the Town, Councillor » Carolyn White, said in a Fire probe Investigation continues into the June 23 fire in Midland inside Parkview School. Yesterday Fire Chief Hal Belfry said that investigators have a "'cou- ple of leads." The cause of the fire has not been deter- prepared statement. OPSEU_ unsuccessfully argued at an arbitration hearing that the confiden- tial secretary in the public works department was no longer exempt from being a part of the bargaining unit, because the position was Bescoucy as secretary to the commissioner of works, an abolished posi- tion. The arbitration board decided that the secretary's work was the same and that the person in charge of that department, with a dif- ferent title, had most of the responsibility of the com- missioner of works. We've got what you're looking for... China ° Stoneware . Crystal ° Flatware ° Nurseryware ° And so much more... THE PLACE SETTING 711 Yonge St., Midland Figurines Handpainted Jewellery Scarves Picture Frames and Albums Gunds Stuffed Animals mined: no cause has been ruled out. THE DARDANELLA THE DARDANELLA DINNER THEATRE presents AL CAPONE'S BIRTHDAY Wednesday 'July 8th 7:30 p.m. Open Every Night Seven Days a Week DOWNSTAIRS AT THE DARD THE DARDANELLA "Hotter Than Ever' WASAGA BEACH, ONTARIO e onthe Beach at, Ist Street « (705) 429-2211 UPCOMING -- * EVENTS Three Course Dinner Show $19.95 The time - the 1920's; prohibition. The place - the Southside Speakeasy; Al Capone's personal secret hide-away. The event - a surprise party for Big Al's birthday. Join us for a step back in time. Be one of Al's closest friends with special invitation to this celebration in his honour. Share the excitement as a fresh batch of illegal booze arrives after a close brush with the Feds on it's way up river. Thrill to the "'Torch Songs"' and the "Charleston Dances"' of the "'flapper era' ". Experience the drama when a rival mob leader tries to muscle in on Big Al's territory. you are there. It's all here, exactly as it might have been; only A KEN ATKINSON MUSICAL PRODUCTION Tuesday, July 7, 1987, Page 5