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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Lucknow Sentinel, 1978-07-19, Page 5Aubr Whee, Hurray! At last someone has acknowledged my writings in print. I am very grateful to this gentleman. for giving the facts and figures to the people of Lucknow, as -The answers he gave to certain parts of my article, were. only wishful thinking on my part. I do not have the knowledge or ability to write a letter of that type, so thanks again, • Surely there must be money to be. made in some way, or why is the Co-op moving out and building a new building and enlarging their floor space to over three times the original size? Why has the manufacturing plant across the road. to increase the size of their building so greatly? Is it a fact that the young man who invented a method of grind disk brakes on the car, got it patented instead of trying to interest some capital? He manufactured the new product and put it on the market. Would he be as well off to just set it back on his work bench and just use it for his own need? How about the fellow who is using the easy chair now? If he had a son, there is no doublt that he would put him through college and if he was clever in what ever he majored in and willing to work hard, would' he be better to just fool around and not get too far in debt until the old July 14, 1478. , To the Editor, The Lucknow Sentinel, Lucknow, Ontario. Madam: People like myself don't stay long without a job. If there is nothing locally to, bring home the bacon, they just go ahead and create a job for themselves. This is my case. I have the potential and the will to create employ., ment for myself and score of - others. I wish you would publish this open letter to hydro for the sale of labour freedom and justice. Yours sincerely, A. J. Legrand. OPEN LETTER TO ONTARIO HYDRO My employment was term- inated by . management on June 9, 1978. I worked at the Bruce Nuclear Station, P.O. Box 1000, Tiverton, Ontario. There is no true collective agreement between Ontario Hydro and the United Assoc- iation of Plumbers and Steamfitters of which I am a member. Under the provisions of the Employment Standard Act, as an employee having no remedy to institute or prose- . cute my former employer (Ontario Hydro, Construc- tions) through the terms of a binding and genuine collect- ive agreement, I claim, through the Employment Standards Aet, 'two full weeks pay for failure of my employer either by neglect, ignorance, contempt or dis- crimination (I have a French name which makes me a white -nigger of Canada) to give me notice in writing of my individual termination. According to Employment Standards, the task I was hired for exceeded a period Of twelve months. Therefore, my employment shall be deemed not til be etnploy- ment for a definite term or task. While employed by Ontario Hydro. 1 carver ; ac y's Observations man died, and then inherit what the old man was sitting on? If the house was still good enough, he could just go in and sit down in the old man's place? There is the possibility, we,,, may have some cases of this type already. Or would that young man not have a much better life if he went ahead and used the talents and ability that he has, even if it means starting a new business? Somehow, all these things do not seem to jell together properly, We are surrounded by dairy herds, but now that Silverwoods were allowed to move out, the milk has to be tanked to some other town and be processed, and then brought back here in truckloads. Is there no way that the by products of some large companies can not be induced to locate here? Or do we just wait until there is nothing, but a group of homes, some that are getting quite old already? No, I believe that it will take a lot of hard work on the part of those who are interested in their home town, and not just misunderstandings on the part of. the council to bring about a revival and a real growth to this town. Which reminds me, that I can see no ' indication of the school crossings being installed and each school day I wonder if that is the day when it is going to be too late. I believe, that those signs should be put up, or the parents of these children given a full and complete public statement why they are not. You may wonder why a man of my age allows himself to become involved in matters of this kind. The answer is, that as long as I am able, the seat of my pants are not going to be the first part to be worn out, I was so pleased with the gentleman's letter to the editor. I hope others will follow his example, go ahead criticize, contradict, or agree, but let us hear from you. Let's get some real interest stirred up even if you have to get out of that easy chair to do it. Goderich a few years ago bought a section of land and after either installing the necessary utilities or making them available, called it "Industrial Park". This space has been gradually filling up with new business places. Even the Signal Star went out there and built anew building and all other large business has built large additions to their plants. The whole place is being filled with new buildings. Surely there must be a reason. It can not be done without foresight, hard work and plenty of headaches and certainly not from an easy chair. Letters to the editor guilty of wilful misconduct or disobedience or wilful neg- lect of duty. While employ- ed, I made written sugges- tions to improve procedure to save materials and consider- able amounts of money. I have written replies to prove it. Sometimes, my sugges- tions were not well received by elementary grade four and grade :'six "Hydro's fore- men" only interested in working overtime to repair ,chronical •• mistakes in their department (Digression: Pro- hibitive and soaring costs are Eof the exclusive ,apanage of ngineering. If Ontario Hyd- ro was really forced to save taxpayers jnoney it would simply compel all Hydro foremen to pass the Depart- ment of Labour's test given say to second year apprentic- es. There is a record some- where at Hydro saying that a foreman suggested to manu- facture all stands, brackets, supports and anchors - from what Hydro scrapped but the man was called a scavenger. Needless to say that the man was red -circled and sent back to the tools). The last weld I started on night shift through pouring rain and without proper cover - the crane couldn't reach my spot with portable shelter - was located at the bottom of a cliff where there was mud and water galore. And although I welded all through winter in ditches, under roads, inside of soaked culverts and through hails, snowstorms and bitter colds, I was too soaked wet, this time, to perform an electric weld SAFELY. I gave up, intending to finish the weld on the following Monday morning. Unfortunately; the following Monday, I was still on night shift. The Monday morning was • sunny. Ideal weather for eager young men working for quality control department. Through their report, my last work was 'narked inde- sirable. I learned about my depreciation when I returned to work three weeks later. I had been " home sick. An aftermath of the rain. Al- though my tickets orwelding licences were still in force, I was sent to the Welding Department Test where I learned with . dismay that I was considered a new man (This to by-pass the Employ- ment. Standards Act) and as such, -I had to pass a basic test. They knew I worked there close to five years. No innocence can quite stand\up under suspicion` if it is conscious of being suspect- ed., I have been 'a welder for 42 years and I know that the best welder in the . world won't be able to pass a test under duress and especially if the voltage of the welding machines (I tried three of them) is lowered by an outside doctored switch. I failed the test. I was told there was no more alternate work made available to me through my seniority. Consequently, I was rudely terminated with- out notice and without an amount calculated in accord- ance with the Employment Standards scale which is two weeks' notice if the period of employment is 2 years or more but less than five years. A vicarious attempt to vindicate my rights was made by the Unions's rep- resentative but it was dis- dainfully considered as lab- our's bung having no legal footing at the Hydro's em- pire. "MY hands were tied," the roan said. I repeat that Ontario Hyd- ro monopoly works under a National Agreement which considers local Unions as employment agencies only. When labour problems arise, Ontario Hydro just sets aside any grievances deriving from unionized people whom they tolerate on their premises as long as they can't do without them, Dictatorship is the name of Ontario Hydro's doings., Quoting labour law and the Employment Standards Act whereas employment is ter- minated without notice, the employer shall pay to the person terminated without notice, the wages and holi- day pay to which the person is• entitled for whether the person performed work or not. I claim failure by my former employer to conform with the Employment Stand- ards Act. 1 claim two weeks of pay. And this, without even complaining to the Office of the Construction Safety Branch of the Ministry of Labour of Ontario for being penalized by an employer for abandoning work under un- safe conditions. Expecting the usual Ont- ario Hydro ensuing sidestep, on my rights I . firmly stand. Yours moved with indignation, A. J. Legrand 3384. To the Editor: The veterans of Ripley Legion would like to bring to the attention of the citizens of the surroun- ding area what is hap- pening with respect to hospitalized veterans. We would like to make you aware of a proposal that was made at K -Wing, Sunnybrook Medical Centre with regard to veteran patients being served a continental breakfast rather than the usual breakfast which they have come to expect and deserve. This has been oc- casioned by a reduction in grants made to hospitals byt the Provincial government and the matter. has not been resolved to date. It would be appreciated if the citizens of this area would bring this matter to the attention of the local Provincial Member of Parliament and advise him that the feelings of the Legion are such that they will not tolerate ally reduction in treatment or care of Canada's veterans. It has also been brought ;to our attention that the 'administrative com- mittee at its meeting recently was advised of a need of a ' resident medical doctor at K -Wing Sunnybrook, and that the department of veteran's affairs was only willing to provide partial funding for this addition to, the medical staff. It is therefore again requested that in this instance .you support CON'r1N111"O om T'. r. r'; '1 Lucknow Sentincj,. Wednesday, July 19, 1978 -Page •741,e column that's read for a purpose by Scotty Hamilton Mail your problems to "Impact' C/O L's paper. All letters will be an3wered provided a stamped addressed envelope IS enclosed. Some of general intere$t,will. be published. Letters must be signed but°we - will NOT reveal your identity. NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE "These Questions and Answers based on Ontario LaW, are published to inform and not to advise. No one should try 10 apply or interpret the law without the aid and advice o1 a trained expert who knows the facts, since the facts of each case may change the application of the taw." A Syndicated Canadian Newspaper Feature LETE FLOWER SERVICE DESIGNERS TO SERVE ,YOU QUICKLY & EFFICIENTLY - DAILY DELIVERY TO LUCKNOW. TEESWATER BRUSSELS. GORRIE & ALL POINTS IN BETWEEN COUNT ON OUR EXPERIENCE TO SERVE YOU WITH THE VERY REST IN FLORAL PRODUCTS LEWIS FLOWERS 357-3880 135 FRANCES WINGHAM SEPOY DRIVE-IN Restaurant F'�y'ra a I. • FULL COURSE MEALS • DAILY SPECIALS OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK Mon. -Sat. 8 a.m. to 2 a.m. SUN. 10 A.M.-MIDNIGHT LUCKNOW 528-2034 Any t5. ..- for in a talking where to buy or what to look t1 !ting budgie will be welcome. (1) Buy a male budgie; the piece at the top of their' beak will be blue as opposed to brown. . (2) Six weeks old, is the'recommenddd age to get one for training to talk. - (3) Patience is a MUST because you will have to be prepared to repeatt e same word over and over for quite a perio of time. Once the bird parrots that,first w rd then apparently other words and phrases usually follow quite rapidly. (4) Buy from a dependable pet dealer or breeder. You can also pick up books on the subject of talking budgerigars. Prices vary, but usually a young male bird costs a little more. C. A. BECKER EQUIPMENT LIMITED Sales. Service Rentals \Field-test 0 new '36 tractor to -day! LUCKNOW 529-7993 Some time ago I decided to sponsor my. wife's brother as an immigrant to Canada from Portugal. I've complied with all the. requests and regulations from the Canada Manpower and immigration people, includ- ing guaranteeing him a job. We're told here that everything is fine, but in Lisbon theyy.,tell my brother-in-law that nothing has "been received, concerning his case. - Where the breakdown of communications between Portugal and here took place is anyone's guess, but the crux of the matter is, that the employment offer for your brother-in-law was turned down, because. qualified Canadians are ,available to fill this job. This case can only be reviewed, if another job offer is received and accepted.