Firstfor Durham ... Outside workers on strike Last Saturday morning, Durham Region's 260 out- side workers walked off the job to back contract deman- ds amidst speculation that normal delivery of water and sewer services would be doubtful. Durham's chief ad- ministrative officer has called on residents to reduce their consumption of water and sewer services while the strike is on. However, Donald Evans said that management staff "will make every effort to provide the public with unin- terupted water and sewer services." A spokesman for the workers does not believe that the region's 50 super- visory staff can do the job normally done by about 130 members of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Local 1785. "They're looking for a hell of a lot from their super- visors," according to Ed- ward Meier, the union spokesman. Talks between the local and the region broke off early last week and at that time, they were 2.2 per cent per year apart. Durham has offered 10 per cent per year over a two year contract but without the cost-of-living clause that has been part of earlier agreements. CUPE has asked for 12.2 per cent a year which they say is needed if their mem- bers are to keep pace with inflation. CUPE representative Rudd Whitney Indicated that they would accept the 10 per cent a year If the region gave a protective cost-of- living clause that will "kick in" when the inflation rate rose above 10 per cent. "That's all we're asking for - to keep pace with in- flation," Whitney said, "and inflation is running at 12.4 per cent." Since Durham was formed in 1973, this is the first time that the outside workers have gone on strike. Last Monday morning, Regional Chairman Gary Herrema said that the two sides were not talking, however, the region is willing to do so. "We're prepared to talk anytime," he said. CONT'D ON PG. 3 An - -Free Press Photo by Stephen Greenaway Seat review request debated today at region How to handle a mugger Bev Rudkin of the Whitby Free Press was Underwood said that age, height, weight nor shown a thing or two about self protection by sex can deter a person from becoming proficient Defendo creator/master Bill Underwood last week. in the art of Defendo since it is based around the The 86-year-old Underwood used one of his numerous pressure points and nerve endings in students, Dale Branton, as a would be assailant in the body. the demonstration. At the end of the twenty hour course he said Defendo classes wil• taught in Oshawa May anyone could render an attacker unconscious in 25-30. seconds. Whitby Mayor Bob Atter- sley and his Ajax counter- part, Bill McLean, are ex- pected to ask Durham Regional Council for a review of its composition. In a notice of motion filed four weeks ago, the two mayors have requested that regional council ask the On- tario Ministry of In- tergovernmental Affairs to review membership on council. Both municipalities have brought forward evidence that they believe justifies each of them getting an ex- tra seat on the second tier of local government. They have based this evidence on growth in population and assessment. Last week Attersley said that the review is need if only to establish guidelines for further reviews of representation. Attersley points out that there has been "vast changes" in the population and assessment in both Whitby and Ajax and feels that perhaps representation should reflect them. "There should be some kind of formula so that the (()<lT) ON 1(. 2 -OU,