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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Lucknow Sentinel, 1993-08-04, Page 2Page 2 — Lucknow Sentinel, Wednesday, August 4, 1993 Hear -the pipe band The -Five County massed pipe band Will practice in Lucknow on Sunday, Aug. 8 at 1 p.m. in the Caledonian Park. Grant Chisholm said the group is preparing for the upcoming Fergus Games where they will perform. This is an opportune time for lovers of the bagpipe to hear and see the newly formed band. Clarification In last week's report on the public meeting regarding the rebuilding of the Lucknow Feed Mill, the story should have in- dicated that Mr. Stever's feelings on the future of the mill pond are `.`indifferent." Mr. Stever indicated that it doesn't matter whether the pond stays or not. This stuffed teddy bear caught the eye of Shauna Dawson of Wingham, during Lucknow's Craft Festival last weekend. The artist responsible for making and dressing the bear was Charlene Brewer who was a first year exhibitor. (Pat Livingston photo) Lucknow llla� � arkct LUCKNOW ' 528-3001 We Reserve The Right To Limit Quantities To Normal Family Requirements r With This Coupon SAVE 1.00 Off 4 - 225 g. Pkg. KRAFT MACARONI 4/ 1 .69 & CHEESE DINNER Special Price w/o Coupon 4/2.69 Expires Sat, Aug. 7/93 L OUR COMPLIMENTS with this coupon 4,1958621 KRAFT Singles. Regular or Thin 1 Kg. Pkg. or Cheez Whiz 1 Kg. Jar Cheese Slices 24 x 355 mi Tins 750 ml Bottle Plus Deposit KNECHTEL 1 Litre Tub NESCAFE Rich Blend Asst. 'Varieties 150g/200 g. Duress- causes, board to pass social contract legislation by Pat Halpin Bruce County Board of Education trustees say the province put them under duress to pass social contract legislation that will cut up to $2,883,061 from the payroll. "The board was very strong in their feeling that we were forced into today's (July 27) meeting and forced into the decision they had to make," said chair Don Tedford. "There is a total agreement that the overall tax purse must be reduced somehow, but (they) don't agree with the process that's going on here with the social contract." The board passed what the province calls 'fail safe provisions' for agreement with its non-union and unionized employees. There are separate provisions for those ear- ning over and under $30,000 a year, out the guidelines call for wage freezes, cancellation of merit, grid and cost of living increases, and unpaid leave for as many as 16 days a year for some employee groups. Director .of Education Paul Mar- tindale admitted the board was passing a 'worst case' scenario, because there is not yet a sectoral agreement with the' province. A sectoral deal could reduce the cuts at the local level by 20 per cent. "The matter is out of our hands," said Martindale. "We are being forced to pass motions today. There needs to be a sectoral agreement or the employees of this board, will pay the price." While the failsafe motions passed unanimously,trusteesstated their feeling about the process strongly. "We are under extreme pressure, as the whole province is, to do something distasteful to us," said trustee Ray Fenton. "I can't think of any process yet that ' has been more divisive than this," said vice -chair Barry Schmidt. "It's one of the worst I've seen," he added. Schmidt acknowledged that' the public sector whges need to be cut given the job losses and in- security in the private sector, but he echoed a familiar comment that a five per cent across the board wage rollback would have been easier to implement and less damaging to morale. Morale and4 quality of education • are issues for trustees because of the social contract, even though at this point the board• doesn't know exactly how the contract will affect individual classrooms and programs. "We've talked about that in com- mittee a lot," said trustee Gord Thompson. "I think it's going to affect education by virtue of the way it's going to affect morale." A worst-case scenario says 7,399 person days will be lost, in elemen- tary and secondary classrooms, due to unpaid leave days. With a sec- toral agreement, that number drops to 5,462 days. Thompson predicted the school year might have to shortened. He noted that has happened with storm days in the past, and observed that "you can't do anything about the weather' and you can't do anything about Bob Rae." While trustees complained about their unwitting role in the social contract process, the county's elementary teachers are worried about the fate of a tentative contract reached on June 17. Both sides agreed to .recommend the contract be ratified by the end of the month. The - teachers have done that, but the board says it. can't meet that deadline because of the efforts to get a sectoral agreement 'on the social contract. Tedford said the provincial level negotiations won't jeopardize the local contract offer, but will delay the signing of it. Teachers' chief negotiator Barry Wolfe is skeptical of the board's ithad aim that n o choice but to sign the fail-safe provisions and delay signing the contract. Wolfe fears the unsigned agreement will giie the board the power to enact 'extreme steps' for cost saving under the Bill 48 legislation. He also wondered if increased taxes could have been used to offset some of the payroll grant cuts. Tedford said Bill 48 legislation prohibited the board from putting the contract ratification on the agen- da for Tuesday's special meeting, and said "it is not our intention" to use extreme measures because of the unsigned contract. ' "We will ratify, depending on what happens with the sectoral agreement," Tedford said. Whipped Topping KNECHTEL Asst Varieties 12 oz /14 oz. . OAKRUN Reg. Pkg. of 6 Vegetables FRESH PART BACK ATTACHED 1.74 Kg. English Muffins With This Coupon SAVE .50 Off 1 - 500 g. Pkg, SWIFT 9 SIDE BACON Price w/o Coupon 2.19 with this coupon Offer Expires Sat.Aug. 7/93 SWIFT Boneless 439 Kg SCHNEIDERS PRODUCT OF ONTARIO CANADA 41 Fresh. Sweet Heaping 4 Litre Basket . PRODUCT OF ONTARIO CANADA 41 2 Ib. Bag PRODUCT OF ONTARIO CANADA 41 Fresh Celery Stalks PRODUCT OF U S A Fresh 284 Kg Bartlett Pears. r" Frank MacKenzie was one member of the Lucknow Legion Pipe Band that performed at the Lucknow Presbyterian Church annual Kirkin 0' The Tartan service on Sunday. There was a bigger than usual turnout this year with many out-of-town visitors. (Marg Burkhart photo)