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The Citizen, 1986-12-03, Page 11== Brussels Lions Club helped the cause at the Back The Biter Day Saturday when it turned over a $1,000 cheque to the Londesboro Lions. Left to right Howard Cartwright, Londesboro club president and Dave Overboe, fundraising chairman receive a cheque from Mel McCutcheon, President, and Neil McGavin a director of the Brussels club. Al Bosman, zone chairman and a member of the Londesboro club watches. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 1986. PAGE 11. Brussels mon.-sat 8-6 887-9226 L OTHER INSTORE FEATURES Mail carriers told to fight Up to200 of the 886 rural mail couriers in the Huron Division of Canada Post are in imminent danger of losing their jobs when their contracts come up for renewal in 1987, and if they want to keep those jobs, they should be prepar­ ed to fight for them, say represen­ tatives of groups willing to lead the way into bartie. Ata recent meeting in Elmwood, more than 70 Huron Division rural mailmen joined the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) after being told by Joe Pickering, president of the Owen Sound local of CUPW, thatthis would be the best way to try to save their means of livelihood, in the face of a ruling by Canada Post that all rural mail routes will be put up for public tender as their current contracts elapse, effective April 1, 1987. At the Elmwood meeting Nov­ ember 19, the third meeting held in the area to provide information for rural carriers, Mr. Pickering said that Canada Post is hoping rural carriers will back off from fighting the new ruling, but warned that if they didgivein, they deserve to lose their contracts. He added that CUPW would help unite rural carriers across Canada in fighting the post office on this new ruling. “We’re not asking for much,’’ said Mary Cumming, co-chairman of the executive elected by the couriers. “All we’re asking is the chance to renew our contracts when our terms are up; all we want is job security.’’ Mrs. Cumming said that the couriers have agreed to give up the Bowes Electronic Shop .6 to 1.5 cu. ft. tradition of “passing on" their routes to others chosen by them­ selves when they no longer wanted them, but were upset at the idea of public tendering every time a contract expired. She said that Dan Coldwell, manager of transportating servic­ es for Canada Post in London, had said that area postmasters would be trained to screen applicants for the contracts, but that ‘the lowest capable tender would get the job’. Mr. Pickering estimated that within a few months, half the new rural carriers would quit or be fired for providing inadequate service, after they realized they had bid too low, and could not afford to continue. It was an opinion echoed by most of the carriers in the Blyth-Brussels area contacted by The Citizen, including Harvey Dennis of Brussels. “Most people tendering today have no idea how much it costs to run a route; they don’t realize how high the upkeep of a car is with all those starts and stops,’’ said Mr. Dennis, now retired after running Brussels routes for more than 55 years, including 40 years on RR 4, Brussels. Mr. Dennis also worried about the confusion that would result in having a new courier “every few months.’’ It takes a long time to learn a route well enough to give good service, he said, relating the time he had 17 “Smiths” on his route, and had to learn every member of every family before he knew where to deliver the mail. Most couriers contacted by The Citizen said they had not signed a union card, but would be willing to do so if that is the only way they could save their jobs. “I’m notinfavour ofunions; I like to be independent. But something has to be done - our jobs could be up for grabs,’’ said Ross Alcockof RR3, Brussels, a courier for the past 10 years, who had his route transferred to him from the previous courier. Mr. Alcock added that he thinks more media coverage would help in alerting the public to the situation, and Mr. Pickering says that now is the best time to fight Canada Post because the public is aware that the corporation plans to cut back on rural service by closing more rural post offices and amalgamating rural routes with as many as 500 customers per route. Mrs. Cumming says that all rural people should join the fight by writingtotheirMP’s, their MPP’s, their council members at munici­ pality and county levels, and to strong lobby groups such as the Federation of Agriculture. Canada Post officials have so far refused to meet with the postal couriers at public meetings, but have had one session with the couriers’ executive, with no result, according to Mrs. Cumming. She said another couriers’ meeting will be called before Christmas, butthatnotimeorplacehasyet been set for it. “We can’t afford to back off on this just because of the holiday season,” she said. “We’ve only got four months left to fight it.” •Minute Plus sets oven for one minute of high cooking, or adds 1 minute during cooking for each touch of the panel. •OVER THE RANGE •CONVECTION •FULL SIZE •MID SIZE •COMPACT HAMILTON STREET BLYTH 523,4412. STEEN’S MILK 4 LITRES 2.39 SCHNEIDER’S ASSORTED LUNCHEON MEATS iz5g1.19 POTATOES 10 lb. bag 1.29 LAFAVE MARGARINE i lb .tub .69 WESTON GRANNY’S BRAN MUFFINS [5s] .99 PLUS DEPOSITCOKE 1.5 L. BOTTLE .89 CHAPMAN’S ICECREAM 2l 1.89 PALANDA PINEAPPLETIDBITS 19 oz ..79 PALANDA 19 OZ. PINEAPPLECRUSHED .79 OCEAN SPRAY WHOLE CRANBERRYSAUCE 1.49 OCEAN SPRAY JELLIED 14 oz. CRANBERRYSAUCE 1.49 VAN CAMP BEANSWITH PORK28oz.1.59 ROBIN HOOD ALL PURPOSE FLOUR 2.5 kg. 2.99 TIDE 6litre4.99 TANG 3 x 92 G. ORANGE CRYSTALS 1.49 BEE HIVE CORN SYRUP il 2.29 CHRISTMAS DELUXE JELLIES 420 g 1.59 MONEY’S PIECES & STEMS MUSHROOMS .59 OLD SOUTH ORANGE JUICE «»oz. .99 QUAKER QUICKOATS i so kg 1.35 PRODUCT OF HONDURAS BANANAS .49 5 & 7 FLOWER 6” POTS POINSETTIAS NOW AVAILABLE FARM HOUSE CREAMPIES 340 g. 1.69 VOORTMAN CHRISTMAS COOKIES 250 g 2/1.79 We will continue to offer excellent services, delivery and regular everyday low prices!