Page 2. Whltby Free Press, Wodnesday, January il, 1995 New Classes starting this week! Cali for details. ZLm 11I Stanley Crt. , Unit # 12,9 Whitby Health centre workers protest unpaid leave By Mark Reesor Whitby Mental Health Centre employees have been asked to take 'voluntary unpaid leave» on Fridays for tho next three months to help save money. A memo froi administrator Ron Ballantyrie notes projections, show the centre will be more than $2.2 million over budget «jrincipally due ýo increased demands for patient care,» and, spending has to be cut «because we must not exceed the $2.2- million overexpenditure further.» The province cut $2.5 million froin the centre's $44-million budget in Ocl;ober. After taking another look, it ordered the centre not to exceed the new budget by more than $2.2 mil- lion. The turne off is in addition to the so-called 'Rao days' required undor- the provincial govern- ment's socal contract -- "addi- tional voluntary unpaid leave is the only viable means of reduc- ing our exponditures si Mfi cantly over the remainder of the fiscal year,» writes Ballantyno. Nursing staff levols are being reduced te woekend levels some clinical programs curtail'ed or rescheduloý4d ~donly «essential staff activities sc eduled on the voluntaryleav da S. "T'here reali h nj't been much interest shown ye1 » in the idea, Balantne aid ir an interview Monday (the firat eave day was held Jan. 6) -- "but this com- munication really only went out a day or two before Christmas; people haven't had a chance to giest it in any way.» eo says 90 per cent of the centre's budget goes to wages 50 "that's where you have to'look for. some avlngs ZThe didn't think this one throug, charges Joan Gates, president Of Local 331 of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union. uIt's right after Christmnas and INTRODUCES "A ward Winning Styist" CHERYL HANNAH (formerly of Valentino's) Please join me at my new location and receive COMFY & COZY! PAMPERED BEAUTY! Relax by the warmith of the living roomn Tastefully decorated 4 bedroom, 3 bathroom fireplace, in thus recerltly updated home, eat-in kitchen with walkout, f inished 3 bedroomn homne with sunroomn overlocuking rec. om anforludyadcnrlar backyard. Central air arnd 4 appliances. .romi orludyadonrlar Won't last at $99,9W. Priced to seil a! $189,500. CALL ROSEMARV BROWN GREAT VALUE! 1 This spaclous 3+1 bedroom home, eat-in kitchen w/walkout, 2 bathrooms, fenced yard, extra long driveway and close to park and school. Reduced to $146.900. PEDRO'S TW O42'~.p...........w m u 4. p .....im g s fo.......r ....... ....... ................... .......o n ly : ....... ............. 728 ANDERSONST (AT MANMING) -66-8788 I9PFC(4I 4 LITRES NATURAL CIDER 3q99 ~11 1430-9115 1 these peoplo have already been affected by the social contract... there aren't a lot of people in a financial situation to talce unpaid days off.» Gates says "Ron didn't talk to us before he did this... there was no consultation, there was no 'how is. this going to affect pro- grains... U&,me people are feeling really intimidated. They feel it'slike either take it this wa or youýre go ing to get it anothor way... they feel they're being coerced into taking the time off.» Patient domand at the centre is really high because of cutbacks at community sI ce organiza- tions, says Ga4->. uThey're trying to see people in the' community and when it doesn't work, we et them on our doorstep a.nd the'r iller -- we're gotting a sicker clientele.» Cuts ini staff time mean that uwhen patients arrive at your door an need care, you've got a problem -- we can lt turn thom away.n RIDE chargesd down hm 1994 Durhamn Regional Police laid 25 charges for drinking and driv- ing out of about 29,000 vehicles stopped in the RIDE program from Dec. 5 to Jan. 7. That was down 19 per cent from, the 1993 RID program. A total of 54 12-hou suern- sions wore handed out by police, down 35 per cent from 1993. Police beleve their "high visi- blity» approach -- increased pub- lic aware ness and RIDE set-ups "ini locations with the highost visibility possible" -- accounted for the reduction. Regular police patrols laid another 68 charges for impaired driving -- a drop of 27 per cent over 1993. Managing wealth The CIBO Banking- Centre on Garden Street W,11 hold seminars on 'Wealth Management'on Jan. 19 and Feb. 16. .Serninars are froin 7 to 8 pa. For more information, caîl 666- 2146.