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Page 2, Whilby Free Press, Wednesday. March 16, 1994 500 public sector employees attend rally By Mike Kowalski Ontario jpublic sector workers pfIan an al-eut offensive ugainst the socal contract. But exactfly how they will flight the provincial government for rollingr back wages last year has yet ta be determined. At the moment, Ontario's nearly one million public employees are content ta simply warn the government they Will not stand for an y more cutbacks. More than 500 Durham Region public employeea, as well as several private sector union members attended a rally in Oshawa fast week to 'prot ýthe social contract. Leaders cf unions representing teachers, hoapital workers pro- vincial and municipal empioyeea took turnas bashing the New Deniocratic Party for passing the controversial Social Contract Act (Bill 48) lIsaummer. Promises of retribution at the polis and' the possibility of a peneral strike, were aznong the ideas floated by the heads cf six public sector unions represented at the rally (eee separate story). The union presidenta, in turn, heard dozens cf their members describe how they must cope with the effects cfr $2 billion in cutbacks in each cf the next three years. Durhami Region's five NDP MPPs were invited ta, the rally, IN CANADA 199à2/1993 Rosemary Brown wilI be flying ta NeveýOrleans this week to attend h lnterrýational Century 21 Conventîon wbere she wilreev the International Centurion Award. In 1993 Rosemary once again achieved the Number 5 [ position f or sales production in ail of Canada within the Century 21 Organization. This is a tremendous achievement considering that there are over 6000 Salespeople in the Canadian System. Rosemary extends a ve ry warm and sincere THANK YOU ta al those clients who helped her reach the number 5 position back to back within the Top 21 Salespeople in Canada in 1993. CALL TODAY SK F R ROSEMARY *1 JUST qP LOVE GIVING AWAY FREE AIR MILES." MEM BER 0F THETORONTO & OSHAWA REAL ESTATE BOARDS 1 but only Durham Centre repre- sentative Drummond Wh ite accepted the invitation (see separate story). «'Meetings like this will allow us to, beat back the forces cf evil » said Liz Barkley, president cf tle Ohtario Secondary School Teachers' Federation. <4We want ta preserve what we feel are the important isses i socety...uiversality, collective bargaining, public education, health care,» she said. And that was what Ontario workers thought they were get- ting when the NDP was elected i 1990 Barkley said. But ýÎ'rier Bob Rae qui*ckly becume intimidated» by "Wal Street and big business» and bowed ta its agenda, she char- ged. Ontario's financial woea have not been caused by public sector unions, Barkley continued. Rather, it in the bank% in- surance companies and «oop- holes for the wealthy"» that allow «our taxes ta be invested in offshore companies that put nothing back in Canada, she said. Barkley's claim cf public employees being made the «socavegoat» was echoed by Gene Lewisprsdent cf the Ontario Public co= Teachers' Fede- ration. "We're not goinq ta, tolerate that kind of dumping on publie sector workers any longer," sald Lewis. «Were not responsible for the deficit,» h. said. There have been four teacher strikes in Ontario this Year and in ail cases the disputes-h ave not been for more money, but ta prevent the "stripping awayn of «rights» teachers have eiijoyed for yrs, Lewis said. As school boardas truggle with less money from Queen a Park, the quality of education will suf- fer and it will be up ta "you and I ta, stand up for their (students) rights,» mid Lewis. eaW know trustees won't do it. We know senior administrators won't do it, and we know (Educa- tion Minister) Dave (Cooke) and his buddies won't do it." Ontario Public Service Epoyees U nion president Fred Upshaw aaid the social contract battle is not restricted ta public employees. "ltes a fight of private and public sector workers and com- munities aIl acrose this pro- vine, » said Upahaw. Wehave ta fight for the ser- vices that our families depend on »he smmd. bi.shaw, an Oshawa resident, dismissed criticism tlhat ubi employees -somehow fe they should be exempt from the effects of the. recession. «I live in Oshawa and 1 can am~ what's happening to private sec- tor jobs ini Oshawa. I can under- stand why they saiy it's time for p ublic sector workers to talc. a hithesaid. ~ut ublic employees have taken rh hefr u»nd more, Upéhaw claimed. e éare prtof the economy of this province, wiho pay aur taxes and éhop at the' local store,» he said. Midway through the nearly two-hour meeting, the rank and Mie was permitted to ask ques- tions or make commenta. A Catholic* achool teacher's concerna were two-fold. SER PAGE 3 A story i sat week's edition ofn th-rePress incorrectly identifled the wife of Durham Centre MPP Drummond White. Norah Love is Whites wife, flot Norah Bruif as the story indicated. The F'ree Press regrets the error. r 0WOPENJL Dentistry for Aduits and Chidren Alnsurance Plans Accepted cEvening & Saturday Appoîntments Available (First 1,000 smiles onfly!) 3050 Garden St at Rossland (in Plaza with Loblaws)