Page 2, Whitby frsePress, Wedneaday, March 1;,199% Whity Hdroworkers get new contract By Mke Kowalskl Whitby Hydre workers have a new contrac. Following 36 heurs of non-stop bargaiin, negotiaters for the Powr Wrkersi' Union (PWU) and Whitby Hydro Electric Com- mission reached agreement on a three-year contract last Tuesday. Retroactive te last July, thoe deal provides for a two peor cent wage hiko July 1, 1996, and mâlces fimproements in a nuin- ber of areas such as benefits and working conditions. In addition," Whitby Hydro agroed te, union demands that the employees have more input inte decision-making at the uti- lity. .À recent advertising campaign PHILADELPHIA FLOWER SHOW 5 Days - March 11 -15, 1995 Tourincodes 0 Mooahtanspottabn , Adisson to Longwood Gardens * 4Nighsammonodation , Adission to ndependece Hall *3Bfreakfasts é*Adnrission to LbertyBeMI *SigNseng iiAnsh are ,Sde trip toAtbnticCit * Amsh crimer * FarewllDinner *Guked toufflPhide # *Hcel taxes *Adissn toPhla a eLUgaharding Rlower Show SeNvies ofa Tour Escort by the PWU charged the commis- sion with mismanagmont and wastoful spending, while ignor- ing the union's own cost-cutting suggestions. Approved by a resounding 96 per cent vote the agreement covers 21 k~hitby Hydro employees, mainly lîneworkers anamet re aders. Under the previous contract, lineworkers earned $23.55 per hour while first class meter rea- dors were paid $17.61 per hour. PWU resident John Murphy hailed tue afreement -- the union's first wîth Whitby Hydro -- as one that will "change the way utility contracte are negotia- ted across Ontario " by making ail utilities more efikient'. r6tWkVtTravel Whitby Town Square 666-8266 cnuin rI.ak 1 with I TO S SINGLE TWIN $749 $555 DOUBLE TRIPLE $545 QAD$489 $449 Pnos quted mper moein Canadm, lnds G S T e.ecrç A CANADIAN RENDEZVOUS"1 in Branson, Missouri with Rita MacNeiI 7 Days a April 22-28, 1995 8 Days - April 22-29, 1995 Tour Incudes Tour Includes e Motorvoach transportation Motoivoach transportation *6 Nights accommodation 7 Nights accommodation *6 Breakfasts 7 Breakfasts 1 iLunch 1 iLunch *7 Shows: Roy Clark, Rita MacNeil - 7 Shows: Roy Clark, Rita Macei Charley Pnide. Mel Tillis, Yakov Smimnoff, Charley Pnide, Mel Tillis, Yakov Smimnoff Stars of WeIk, Walters Family Stars of Welk, Walters Family *Addlitional optional shows: Slver Dollar - Additional optional shows: Silver Dollar City, Eureka Springs, Ride the Ducks City, Eureka Springs, Ride the Ducks *Luggage Handling Luggage Handling *Hotel Taxes Hotel taxes *Services of a Tour Escort Services of a Tour Escort SINGLE TWIN SINGLE TWIN $1049 $789 $1149 $895 DOU)BLE TRIPLE QUAD DOUBLE TRIPLE QUAD $779 $705 $659 $879 $795 $735 Pkesquodperpomm in Canadai lards G STexemcp. Pimequoadperpeclofin Carnam isG STexemcpt «The deal's good for custo- mers,» said Murphy in a press releae. «It will cut back on unnecess- ary expenditures, and it's a move that r believe could see lower rates and more reliable power for Whitby Hydro custemers in the future.» Reerring te the controversial full-page aavertisement, Murphy said the publicity campaign achieved its purpose. "Consumers from Whitby were a real help in pushing negotia- tiens alonii,» hoe statod. 'The union knew we had their ou prt and se did management. It*helpe when the poople pay- ing the buis and the peýoplie doing the real work are tegether.» Ini an -interview, Murphy said the 20-page package was vir- tually a 'complote rewrite» of the former agreement. ntdyth (Previously represnebth International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Whitby Hydro employees joined the PWJU last year.) But while welcoming improve- monts in wages, benefits and working conditions, Murphy said a key component of the contract talks was managoment's new- found willingness to listen te the union s suggestions for improv- 50r example, the PWU ad cri- ticized the commission for allow- ing managers te talc. Whitby Hydr cars and trucks homo «in case they qet an ernergency caîl.' The union claimod thîs was nothing but a management perk and saîd the emploDyees should b taking the vehîcles homo since they are the onos who do the actual work when power le dis- meuse of vehicles has been suspended pending a review by the commission," said Murphy. «The PWU cari make a submis- sion te the commission regarding their most effective use." However, Murphy noted that the major-ity of wasteful spend- in charges- levied 'against Witby Hlydre have stilî.gone unanswered. The commission refused te res- pond te the union's allegations while negotiations were ongoing. "Most of the items w. identi- fied can't b. considered true col- lective bargaining issues," said -Ia,9now comnplote and we intend te, fully _prosent them and continue with the ad carnpaign te make this a more efficient com- mission.» Although commission chair Don MacMaster termed the 728 ANDERSON ST. LLC. 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Lovely 3+1 bedroorn Beautilul 4+1 bedroom home, super kilchen ith Carnies like rent for $867.GO a month JJ home next10 the park vihere the kids can play. sland and door 10 deck, circuler stauvcase to0 with approximately $5,000.00 down, U,) Large eal-in ktchen with walkout, close 10 basement, trench doors, Central Air and stuated spacious 4 bedroomn finished rec. roomn o schools and excellent value at $139,900. on a ravine lot. Dont delay, $237,700. & 2 bathroomis..Pnced to selI at $109,900. CC CALL ROSEMARY BROWN d43:3-2121 J negotiations a «difficuit process," he is looking forward to a pro- ductive relationship with the PWU. "Beinq a first contract with a new union it was tense, but I think it will b. a win-win situa- tion for both parties,» ho said. "You will see more joint inves- tioation of problems and I hope it s done itral , rather than an ad campaign.» MacMaster said Whitby Hydro general manager Tom May has prepared a report on the unions dlaims and Jt a only a matter Of the commission meeting to dis- cuss it. «It'll talce us a littie while. It's our full intention to respond,» ho said. Among examples of supposed wasteful spending cited im.the PWU ad is *a vehîcle, dubbed the 'Double-The-Money-Half-Million- Buck' truck. At a cost of almoat $500,000, the truck is equipped with a ladder which canr rach a height of noarly eight and a haif stores. But as the advertisement sta- ted, this ie 20' foot taller than most utility polos in Whitby. For the saine mono *Whtby Hydro could have purchased two smaller trucks to do the same job the union claims. ôther examples include: * a $20;000 mobile transformer which the union says is not needed; * a $172,000 'Won't-do-the-job' truck that does the same work as a truck costing $50,000 less; * two proposed hydro sub- stations costing $1.7 -million each which the union says are unwar- ranted. In additions th e ad pkes fun at "perks" enjoyed by a such as a private wash no and an electronically-operated desk which can be raised or lowered according te the user'g. pro- fer'ence. Oshawa man ch argeid ban-k robbery An Oshawa man was last week arrested in connection with the Feb. 20 hold-up of the Bank of Montreal branch in downtown Whitby. Gerald Steven Dizon was arrested at the Oshawa hostel on Feb. 21. Durham Regional Police say a mnan brandishmng a knife escaped with a small aniaunt of cash from the bank just after noon on Feb. 20. Ho dropped his knife as ho was leavin eA 0n annorth nthe ] HAIRCUT Afler 2:3Opm w SPECIAL unfil 7:OOpm 1 PERMS $25.00 and up COLOURS ** $25.00OJ SPIRAL PERMS $55.00 and up MON. TO FR1 9:GO - 700 - SATURDAY 9:00 - 6:00 209 DUNOAS ST. E, WHITBY POST FFIC (IN THE WHITBY CORPORATE CENTRE) OHY2XNAI (ACROSS FROM POST OFFICE) î!i1 ATTENTION ALL SENIORS