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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes-Advocate, 1978-02-16, Page 1SHDHS teachers first out on strike plan TS at Soiith Huron or mass resignation. strike action would he She sueeested it was beine ape 50 before being entitled Hill said it is the board’s « ® .Teachers at South Huron District High School went out on strike yesterday in what appeared to be the first of a rotating strike plan by the Huron secondary school teachers. Classes were in progress at the other four schools in the county, but it is expected at least one of them will be closed today through similar action. The teachers reported Tuesday night at a press conference in Clinton, that they would use strike sanc­ tions affecting the five secondary schools, although at that time they refused to outline which of three alter­ natives they would choose. Strike action, which was approved by 90 percent of the county’s teachers last week, can include work-to- rule, withdrawal of services Serving One Hundred and Fifth Year UPSIDE DOWN — One of the signs used by striking teachers at South Huron District High School Wednesday morning was difficult to read. Staff member Richard Klopp carries the reverse direction sign. Students heading for home in the background are Wayne Parsons, Bob McDonald, Steve Pearce, Chris Mittelholtz and Steve Wells. T-A photo Strikers average $23,200 Wages not an issue The majority of items which were in dispute between striking secondary school teachers and the Huron County Board of Education have been settl­ ed, including the pay scale for the current school year. The board members have agreed to salary increases which would bring the average salary for the secondary teachers to $23,- 200 per annum. The minimum for teachers with no experience would increase from last year’s $10,730 to $12,350, Another success crippled kids Ideal weather conditions helped make the annual crippled kids’ weekend at Pineridge Chalet another big success. About 1,000 people arrived for breakfast Sunday morning and kept Bill Brady and his other pancake and sausage chefs hopping. Shirley Mousseau reported that many of the participants took advantage of the good weather to drive to the chalet on snowmobiles. “I’ve never seen so many snowmobiles,” she remarked. Mrs. Mousseau reported that the receipts have not yet been tabulated, but she More hubcaps among missing One more case of missing hubcaps was added to the list being investigated by the Exeter OPP. The latest theft involved four hubcaps from a van owned by Bryan Fink, Hensall. They were valued at $91. The police are in­ vestigating the theft of hubcaps from three other vehicles in the Hensall and Zurich areas. One incident of vandalism was also reported. Two windows at the Usborne Central School were smashed sometime over the weekend. Damage was estimated at $125. or mass resignation. Indications are that the strike could be lengthy. When asked Tuesday if the board members were preparing for a long strike, E. C. Hill, chairman of the negotiating committee, replied “I guess we are”. He said it was a “regret­ table situation” and noted the board had endeavoured through negotiation to effect a settlement with the teachers. “We hope the public recognize we are acting in their interest,” he said ex­ plaining at a press con­ ference that the board un­ animously supported ' the negotiating committee. He indicated feed-back receiv­ ed by trustees suggested the public was “favorably dis­ posed in our direction”. The Goderich trustee said while the maximum goes from $24,554 to $25,550. Other items which have been settled include: A pupil/teacher ratio range of 16.8 to 17.2. Seniority clause to provide protection based on seniori­ ty and qualification to more long service employees. A provision in the collec­ tive agreement to provide for a pool of up to five teachers who are surplus be­ ing retained on staff. Increase in the allowance for a Bachelor’s degree from $300 to $500 per year. expects that last year’s record $4,000 donation to crippled children will be duplicated. Although participants came from throughout Western Ontario, the majority of prize winners were area residents. Bob Baker, Hensall, won Saturday’s poke rally, while finishing behind him were Jack Brintnell, Staffa, and Susan Mousseau, Hensall. Prizes of digital clock radios were provided by Smith Peat Roofing. There were 130 entries. Sunday’s poker run at­ tracted 43 entries and Don Brunzlow, Exeter, took top honors, followed by Gary Koehler, Hensall. Wendy Dixon, Hensall, copped the women’s prize, followed by Karrie Conlon, Zurich. Sport travel bags and sport cushion blankets were awarded by Phil Jones of Labatt’s Breweries. The special prizes of a Yarhaha sweater and toque from Elder Enterprizes went to Michael Scott, London, and Donald Perry, Exeter. They were for riders 18 and under. Racp winners were as follows: under 14, $10 cash, Brad Darling; men’s 301-350, Hensall Co-Op trophy, Paul Elder; men’s 350-440, Jerry MacLean & Son Automotive trophy, SCOtt Darling; ladies’ 0-350, Elder Enter­ prises trophy, Karrie Please turn to page 3 strike action would be detrimental to the educational system and noted “no one wins” in such situations. He said the fun­ damental issue at stake is who’s going to manage the education system in Huron . .. the board or the teachers. “It is,” he replied to a question if the issue was that cut and dried. While there was a sugges­ tion that the board may lock teachers out if they started a rotating strike plan, Hill said that decision had not been made. He said the board would view the situa­ tion at the time and deter­ mine the effect. Speaking on behelf of the teachers at a press con­ ference Tuesday night, OSSTF executive director Bev Thompson said “we do not welcome this strike”. This only applies if the degree is not being used for category placement. Increase in the number of sick days a teacher may ac­ cumulate from 200 to 220. Provided for the continua­ tion of staff improvement plan to fund this plan to the extent of half of one percent of all salaries and allowances paid to teachers (approximately $33,000). Under this plan, teachers, are permitted to take short and long term leaves for the purpose of improving their educational qualifications. & waitresses Anne Mousseau and Janet Bilcke. A BRADY BATCH — Bill Brady was responsible for many batches of pancakes at Sunday's Crippled Kids Day at the Pineridge Chalet. Above, the CFPL radio personality fills plates tor ---------‘ _-----------------‘ J—: . staff photo Five hurt at Hensall Five people were injured in a two-car crash south of Hensall, Sunday. None of the injuries was of a serious nature. Drivers involved in the crash on Highway 4 were Patrick Waterfield, London, and James Pickering, Ailsa Craig. Injured in the crash were Elizabeth Waterfield, Patrick Waterfield, James Tweddle, Ann Tweddle and driver James Pickering. OPP Constable Larry Christiaen investigated and set total property damage at She suggested it was being provoked by a minority of trustees on the board. Ms. Thompson said the strike would be “disruptive and painful”, and suggested the teachers were giving every consideration to the effect of a strike, recogniz­ ing its impact on the com­ munity. The two sides broke off negotiations at noon Tues­ day and each held press con- ferences. The board members arranged theirs after the Tuesday morning talks broke off, while >.the teachers had announced on Monday that they would hold a press conference, in­ dicating they were not an­ ticipating any settlement. Two issues divide the teachers and the board. One concerns sick leave gratuity which currently pays up to half a year’s salary when a teacher resigns or retires without having used up sick leave entitlements. The board’s position is that the teacher must attain "J/ * '' imes - Advocate erving South Huron, North Middlesex & North Lambton Since 1873 so EXETER, ONTARIO, FEBRUARY 16, 1978 Price Per Copy 25 Cents Rural reeves win vote Ion proposed tax change You’ve got to be kidding! That seamed to be the at­ titude of county councillors who voted Thursday at the February session of Council in Goderich to a recommen­ dation from the executive committee designed to even up taxes in Huron for county purposes. Bill Clifford, reeve of Goderich, urged county councillors to “look at what is fair and what is just” when they perused figures that showed what the various municipal appor­ tionments would have been had the 1975 market value assessment figures been used in 1977, added to the equivalent equalized assess­ ment for grants in lieu, together with population base for library, social ser­ vices, Huronview, family and children’s services and health costs. In general, the figures showed that urban dwellers would have paid substantial­ ly less into the county coffers, while the rural dwellers would have been tagged with many more tax dollars. A recorded vote atallied 28-19 opposed to investigated by detachment ac- the this first accident oc- $2,500. It was one of three cidents Exeter week. The curred on Wednesday when vehicles driven by Alma Griffith, Huron Park and Karen Prest, RR 2 Centralia, collided at the junction of Algonquin Drive and Huron Road 21 at Huron Park. Damage was listed at $600 by Constable Don Mason. Constable Al Quinn in­ vestigated the other accident which occurred on Friday at age 50 before being entitled to the payment of gratuity. The teachers say there should be no age require­ ment. However, the real crux in the stalemate appears to be a clause which stipulates how many pupils a teacher will handle during a teaching day. Similar clause was con­ tained in the previous con­ tract on a “shall endeavour” basis and Hill said it was not workable. “It was bad for us”, he said, adding that it would be irresponsible for the board to continue with such a clause. However, the teachers maintain that it guarantees better quality education. The effects of the clause in the opinion of the two sides is extremely divergent. The board’s negotiating committee, which includes area trustees Herb Turkheim and King McDonald, sees it as a ques­ tion of who will manage the education system in Huron. committee recommendation that the final 1978 county ap­ portionment be raised on the system. Those opposed were C.W. Bray, Allan Campbell, Ken Campbell, Tom Consitt, Frank Cook, Murray Daw­ son, Cecil Desjardine, Bill Elston, Gerry Ginn. Simon Hallahan, Bob Lyons, J.F. MacDonald, Doug* McNeil, Ralph McNichol, Tom Miller, Bill Morley, Harold Robinson, John Stafford, Paul Steckle, Grant Stirling, Corn auger injures girl A 15-year-old Dashwood area girl suffered serious injuries when her arm was caught in a corn auger, Friday. Charlene Hartman, RR 2 Dashwood, had her left thumb amputated in the accident. She also sustained injuries to her hand and her arm was broken. The girl was rushed to University Hospital by Hoffman’s Ambulance. the intersection of sideroad 15 and concession 2-3 of Usborne Township. Vehicles involved were driven by Ronald Doiron, RR 3 Exeter, and Kenneth Stoll, RR 2 Seaforth. Damage was high at $3,000, but no injuries were sustained by the drivers. During the week the local detachment officers charged 12 people under the Highway Traffic Act, nine under the Liquor Licence Act, two under the Narcotic Control Act and one under the Criminal Code. Hill said it is the board’s responsibility to staff the schools properly under their perogative of trusteeship and it is up to the director of education, in consultation with the principals, to deter­ mine the size of classes. The board had recommended that a joint teacher/trustee committee be established to provide in­ put to the board on class size and the number of pupil con­ tacts per teacher. Hill .said the board is will­ ing to share discussion on the topic, but not to share management respon­ sibilities. He pointed out that the formula requested by the teachers could be in conflict with the negotiated pupil/teacher ratio and the two formulas could develop a different number of teachers. It was also hinted that the teachers were looking for some job security through inclusion of the clause and it Please turn to page 3 Jack Tinney, Roy William­ son and Warren Zinn. Those in favor were R.M. Bell, Bill Clifford, Bill Dale, Norman Durst, John Flannery, Fred Haberer, Joe Kerr, Cal Krauter, Royce Macauley, D.J, No­ ble, Eileen Palmer, Ervin Sillery and Harold Wild. All other councillors were ab­ sent from the meeting. Warden Gerry Ginn was a little embarrassed about voting in opposition to the recommendation, especially when he was acting chair­ man of the executive com­ mittee when it conceived the recommendation. “I believe there should be tax reform,” said Ginn, “but I believe grant reform should come in with it. But this does point up the fact there are inequities.” “I don’t believe we can enter into this before we see grant reform,” agreed Paul Steckle of Stanley township. “We need to know where the grants are coming from and where they’re directed.” The figures Two sets of figures were set out for comparison. One set showed what the actual 1977 apportionment for county expenses was for each municipality. The se­ cond set showed what each municipality would have paid had the 1975 market value assessment figures been used along with the equivalent equalized assess­ ment for grants in lieu ‘together with the population base for what has come to be known as “people services” which were figured on a per capita basis. The results were sur­ prising for some council members. It showned that in every rural municipality but one, Tuckersmith, there would have been an increase in the apportionment, while Hay donates to federation Hay township council met last Wednesday and authorized the issuing of a grant to the Ontario Federa­ tion of Agriculture in the amount of $400. Council also announced that tenders for furnace oil, diesel fuel and gasoline will be issued. Advertisements will appear in the local press. Tenders are to be in to the clerk’s office by 12 noon of March 1. Building Inspector Harvey Clausius was authorized to inspect the work done for renovations and repairs con­ ducted under the Ontario Home Renewal Program, before funds to the building owner are allotted. In a council meeting held January 16, C.P. Corbett of Lucan was appointed as the engineer for the Datars- Miller drain. DISCUSS STRATEGY — When a strike was called by the Huron Secondary School teachers bargaining committee Wednesday morning, South Huron was the first to be affected. Above a number of teachers huddle to plan picket line scheduling. From the left are Doug Ellison, Ron Bogart, Sawaran Singh, Richard Klopp, Gerry McAuley and Gerry McDonnell. T-A photo A PAIR OF QUEENS AT KIRKTON -Barbara Anderson was named Queen of the Kirkton-Woodham Winter Carnival Fri­ day night. Above, Barbara is being crowned by last year's winner Ellen Eveleigh. Staff photo Pays $400 penalty for Crediton incident every town and village in Huron would have realized a reduction. Goderich township would have been hit the hardest in the rural municipalities — $23,276 more. Running neck and neck for second spot were Stanley township with $17,193 more and Ashfield township with $17,153 more. In fourth spot was Hay township with $14,787 more and in fifth spot was McKillop township with $14,- 437 more. Other rural municipalities would have paid additional taxes as follows Usborne, $13,770; West Wawanosh, $11,746; Stephen, $10,621; Howick, $9,934; Grey, $9,- 322; Hullett, $9,263; Turnberry, $8,271; Morris, $7,735; East Wawanosh, $6,- 502; Colborne, $6,159. Tuckersmith would have paid a total of $23 less than they actually did pay in 1977. This was attributed to a very accurate assessment in 1970 and a very even rate of real estate inflation through the years. The town of Goderich would have paid $72,452 less in 1977 had the new formala been applied. Wingham would have paid $30,217 less; Exeter, $26,029 less; Clin­ ton, $21,151 less; and Seaforth $11,478 less. Among the villages, Hen­ sall would have paid $5,892 less; Zurich, $5,448 less; Brussels, $4,238 less; Blyth, Please turn to page 3 Pick park plan people The South Huron rec cen­ tre board of management continue to have problems attracting enough members to get regular meetings un­ derway. Thursday’s regular meeting was delayed almost one hour until a fourth member arrived to make a quorum. Attending the ses­ sion were chairman Bob Down, Kim McLean, Howard Pym and Jerry MacLean. Most of the evening was spent in private and group meetings with the staff. Salary increases were set and will be forwarded to Ex­ eter council for approval. Chairman Bob Down an­ nounced the formation of a special committee assigned to come up with plans for redevelopment of the com­ munity park. The com­ mittee will be asked to pre­ sent their report for the April meeting. Members include Don Finkbeinet, Joyce Morgan, Don Bray, Jim DeBlock, Da­ mien Solomon and Irv Armstrong, The board of management have set aside $15,000 in this year’s budget to cover costs of park improvements. Thomas McVeeney, Ailsa Craig, was fined a total of $400 or 40 days in jail when he appeared before Judge W.G. Cochrane in Exeter court, Tuesday. In addition, he was placed on probation for a 12-month period and ordered to be of good behaviour during that time and to appear in court if summoned. McVeeney was charged following two incidents on December 18. He was charg­ ed with causing a distur­ bance and also with resisting a police officer. The court learned that McVeeney had been knock­ ing and kicking at doors and shouting outside a Crediton residence. When Exeter OPP Constable Wally Tomasik arrived to in­ vestigate, he was knocked down by the accused and other officers were called to assist. When McVeeney was taken to the Exeter OPP headquarters, some of his friends broke a window. They will appear in court at a later date. In handing down his sentence, Judge Cochrane ordered McVeeney to keep away from two Crediton men whom he had been dis­ turbing. He was fined $250 on the charge of resisting arrest and $150 for the disturbance charge. A line of $200 or 20 days was levied against Mark Wragg, Exeter, who was charged with causing a dis­ turbance in Exeter on December 30. Local Constable Brad Sadler said he was on foot patrol when he saw a commotion. Wragg used obscene language with a female and also with the policeman. He was given 30 days in ’ which to pay the fine. A Brucefield man, C. Harley Christie, was fined $200 or 20 days on a charge of theft, arising from an in­ cident at a local service sta­ tion on February 4. He drove away without paying for gasoline and also ran over an automatic gas nozzle, which he had placed on the ground. Christie was placed on probation for three months and was given three months in which to pay the fine. The court learned that the accused asked to have the gas tank on his vehicle fill­ ed, but left the scene when a hitch hiker with him reported he had no money although he had told Christie he would pay for the gas. Mark J. Baraniuk, Sarnia, was given an absolute dis­ charge on a charge of having marijuana in his possession on November 5. He had been a passenger in a vehicle in­ volved in an accident and when he was taken to hospital, a nurse spotted a small packet that fell from his pocket. The packet con­ tained a small amount of marijuana. In the only other case heard, Tuesday, John R, McEwen, 557 Ontario St., London was fined a total of $250 or 25 days on charges of driving while disqualified and also failing to appear in court for an earlier appearance. He pleaded guilty to both charges and was given 30 days in which to pay the fines. Kindergarten at Precious Blood At a meeting, Monday, the Huron Perth Separate School board approved plans for the establishment of a kindergarten at Precious Blood school in Exeter. The kindergarten will start with the new school year in September. In the past few years, kindergarten age pupils have been attending kindergarten classes at Usborne Central School.