- -~ - -~ W~rY ~¶~EPR~SWg9INESDAY, APRU 5, 199, PAGE 5 Durham teachers join protest of pension plans_ By Trudie Zavadovics About 600 Durham teachers., including four busloads from Whitb, were Hamilton -bound Saturday morning to protest against Ontario Treasurer Robert Nixon's proposals for their pension funds. "I was encouraged to see the number of teachers there,» said Oheryl Marek, teacher at Earl A. F'airrnan public school. "Lt showed teachiers united with the organization leaders. I think the government will be impressed The raly, which inciuded about 23,000 teachers, was a cooperative effort of ail pre- sidents of ail local affiliates. «t took two weeks to prepare for the raly and each president worked with their own group, said Jay Wolf, president of th e Durham District of the Ontario Public Teachers Federation. Teachers are angry that the provincial government is forcing them to pay an additional 1 per cent ($300 per teacher annuaily) to save their pension funds from bankruptcy. They also protest government refusaI to allow dis- putes to be settied by binding arbitration. "Bob Rae (Ontario NDP leader) showed bis eloquence as a speaker. He said what, politi- caily, were good statements. t was a nice change to hear a politicin uportxng our posi- tion. He wa Ihi supprted by groups there," said Wof.p "Nixon was giving a historical background (back to the l7th * centuryr) that everyone already knew,' said Wolf. The group * interruped Nixon's five minute speech twice, asking him to get on with whathe had to say. Joe Ryan of Bowmanville, pre- sident of the Durham chapter of the Ontario Engiish Catholic Teachers' Association (QECTA), thought the rally was a success. "Lt makes the crowd even big- ger knowing that the target area was London to Barrie to Oshawa. "Nixon showed good poiitics but the Tories lost a lot of ground with teachers. They saw Et tosend nobody. The honey- moon with the Liberals is over," said Ryan. "Teachers are not easiiy riled." Ryan said that teachers got riled when, at a meeting Jan. 11, Nixon said, «Negotiations are now over and we will unila- terally impose a settlement. "These are people who used to scream of the arrogance of the Tories," said Ryan. 'The e'rocess was no longer there. We are suggesting there be a dis pute resolution mechanism. "I have great faith in the collective bargaining process," said Rya "I hope4tey wil see it, then Saturay won't have been a waste of time for any- body." FAIRVIEW LODGE resig Sweetmnan (left) tastesa chip cookie, one of the t Treats.for.seniors !dent Mabel by brownies (from right) Shelby Car- a chocolate son, Lauren Melntyre and Andrea treats given Tooze. Free Press photo Public sehool grants less than separate By Debbie Luchuk The public education system received less grant money than the separate system in 1988, the Durham Board of Educa- tion finance and salary commit- tee was told on Wednesday last week. Superintendent of business Brian Cain presented figures that reflect less spending on the public system secondary pupil than the separate school high school student. Recent figures released through the F'reedom of Informa- tion Act show that the Province spent more on the separate school secondary student than the public. In 1988, the Province spent close to ï1,000 more on each pupil in the separate boards than on public system sttfdents, with $6,202 spent on each separate secondary student and $5,536 on OVE 100,00 *jAMAAE aOLST -IIENI"HOS FO each public seconday student. The grant per public pupil was $1,987 compared to $4,463 per separate pupil in 1988, a dis- parity in funding of $?,476. In 1988, the public secondary grant decreased. by 3.6 per cent over 1987, and the separate SEE PAGE 14 Bill Swans 8column will return next week Get a piece of, Barrymore, free. 25% off on "Limited Edition"' furniture. Right now at the Kaufman Furniture Gallery, our exclusive line of Barrymore "Limited Edition' custom ordered, upholstered fumidshings is 25% off. Everything from hand-crfted wing-back* chairs to contemporary love seats. And, as always, you get free in-store design service and free delivery vith your Barrymore purchase. So, corne into the Kaufmnan Furniture Gallery before April 29th, and get 25% of your new furniture free. In about 100 different fabric selections. m The Kaufman.Funituvc Gcillery Ltd. Where Beautiful Homes Begin. WHITBY The Kaufman Furniture Gallery Highway #2 east of Thickson Rd. Telephone 434-1733 MARKHAM The Kaufman Furniture Gallery Highway #7 just east of McCowan Telephone 471-5353 MISSISSAIJGA The Kaufman House Gallery 2273 Dundas Street West (west of Erfn Mitis Prkwy.) Télephone 828-1330 OSHAWA AJAX 140 Simcoë St. S 37'Harwood Ave S (just South ci John) (Between Hwy 2 and 401) 579-1655 686-0719 1 m 006muma -- ---- 4=F - - - -