WIITBY FREE PRESS, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 28, 1981, PAGE 3 Only alternative is right to strike Allen says.... Region asks for review of police arbitration system By MICHAEL KNELL Free Press Staff Durham Regional Council will join with the City of Cambridge in asking the provincial government for a review of the compulsory arbitration process for police and fire men. This action was taken despite a recommendation to the contrary from the president of the Durham Regional Police Association. Constable Dale Allen told council in a deputation last week that the only alter- native to the present system is to give police and fire men the right to strike which he said neither the police of- ficers or the politicians really wanted. Allen also told council that the request for endorsation of the resolution came because the City of Cam- bridge did not receive a favorable verdict from the. arbitrator during talks with their police and fire men. ½ "The only alternative to the arbitration process is the right tc strike," Allen said. "We don't believe that the right to strike for police and fire men is the best situation." The police officer told council that of the 120 police assoeiations in the province only 12 went to arbitration during their contract negotiations during 1980. He also told them that only 12 went to arbitration in 1979, 13 in 1978 and 10in 1977. However, he admitted that since 1977 Durham Region has gone to arbitration three times, once in 1977, 1979 and 1980. He also told council that only nine associations and their commissions went to arbitration more than on- ce. Allen described the Durham Regional Police Force as being one of the best in the country with one of the highest percentages of case solving. He also told council that the efficiency of the force would go down if they had the right to strike and sub- sequently had to use it. "If the police and fire associations had the right to strike it would affect the ef- ficiency of the force," he said adding that the lose would be due to the lose of community support. "We would lose some of the respect of the citizenry," he continued saying that this respect and support was ab- solutely vital to the police of- ficer's job. When asked by Regional Councillor Tom Edwards (Whitby) whether or not the Durham Regional Police Commission felt the same as the association, Allen replied that he did not know because the two parties have not talked about the issue. Allen was also pressed by some councillors for another alternative, however, he stuck to his position that "the only alternative that I can see at this point is the right to strike." He admitted that there would be another possibility to put guidelines on the ar- bitrators. He was not in favor of that proposal, either. "Guidelines for ar- bitrators would then inhibit the free bargaining process," he said. Pickering Regional Coun- cillor Alex Robertson told Allen that he thought it would not hurt to do a review of the compulsory ar- bitration system and asked what objections there could be to it. "I can see no advantage to a review," Allen replied. "A review can only bring in the right to strike or guidelines for arbitrators." Allen also suggested that a review of the system would make some arbitrators more wary because it would give the impression that no one was happy with their work. A recent contract that was won by the Peel Regional Police Force lias been heralded as a "fair set- tlement" by the president of the Durham Regional Police Association. Constable Dale Allen said that the settlement should be followed in Durham and that his 350-member association always works towards salary levels that are com- parable with those in other regional police forces. "When we prepare our proposals we always look at agreements signed in other regions, particulary Peel and York, both of which bor- der Metro Toronto," Allen said. Allen feels that the Peel settlement is a fair one. Un- der that agreement a first class constable received a 25.6 per cent salary increase bringing it to 29,822 a year. That contract was ratified by 65 per cent of Peel Region's 611 member force. The president also poin- ted out that the Hamilton- Wentworth Regional Police Force signed an agreement that will see a first class constable receive $29,812 a year. A first class constable with the Durham Force is presently paid $23,363 a year. Durham Regional Police Commission chairman Tom Jermyn also said that the commission reviews other agreements when negotiating with Allen's association. "We have to be realistic and use common sense when we make our proposals and we have always looked closely at settlements in Peel and York, both of which can be compared with Durham," hesaid. Jermyn added that negotiations with -the association are expected to resume when Ontario Solicitor-General Roy Mc- Murtry names a coun- ciliator. Petrodollars come to Whitb The federal cabinet ap- purchase the Whitby Oaks proved a proposal under the Court complex that is Foreign Investment Review presently owned by William Act that will see Richard Sorichetti and "petrodollars" invested in Claude Andrew Sorichetti. Whitby. The approval, given last Sheika Abdulla Mohamed week, did fot say when the Baroom 0f Saudi Arabia will take-over will take place. I~~TH ECOR PORATION OF TH E TOWN OF WHITBY TOWN 0F WHITBY PROCLAMATION HEART MONTH TAKE NOTICE THAT the month of February. 1981, is hereby proclaimed as -Heart Month n and for the Town of Whit- by. Citizens are urged to recognuze that heart disease sthe nurnber one *kiIIer'" disease and a concern to everyone. DATED a! Whitby, Qntario, thps 28th day of January. 1981. R And Attersiey, Mayor, Town oWhtby D.THAPAR DENTURE THERAPIST 214 Dundas St. E., Whitby 668-7797 HOURS: Mon.-Sat. & Evenings By Appointment Only 1.6618.8888 668-3333il BELL & BOWMAN TAXI WHITBY'S LARGEST TAXI COMPANY - OVER FIFTY YEARS OF GOOD SERVICE -CALL US Kingsway Jewellers McALLSTEl9SGREAT JANUARY SALE is approaching its finale with savings of 10 - 50% off on beautiful handcrafted furniture. MCALLISTERS whre De Isceng Peow ..M a n Invsen wBaut> 70 ROSSLAND RD W OSHAWA 576-6465 Mon. Tues. Wed 10-6 - Thurs . Frt 10-9 - Sal 10'5 Durham sees Peel pact as being fair 01 1