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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2002-04-10, Page 6Good stuff Ally Henry enjoyed the delicious fare served during the Blyth Legion Ladies Auxiliary's annual Daffodil Tea last Thursday. (Vicky Bremner photo) Putting Canada First Help Canada's agriculture and agri-food industry be number one in the world FOOD SAFETY We want your input. To prosper in the 21st century, Canadian agriculture must lead the world in food safety, innovation and environmentally- responsible production. Together with farmers, the broader agri-food industry and consumers, governments are working to develop an action plan to help Canadian agriculture meet the challenges and seize the opportunities of a new century. A plan to ensure the brand "produced in Canada" means excellence to consumers everywhere. You have a stake in this new direction. RENEWAL RISK MANAGEMENT To learn more and provide input, visit www.agr.gc.ca/puttingcanadafirst or call - 1 800 0-Canada (1 800 622-6232) TTY/TDD 1.800 465-7735 A federal-provincial-territorial initiative PAGE 6. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10, 2002. Letter to the editor Public servant responds to editorial THE EDITOR In response to the editorial of March 20, I am glad that Mr. Roulston recognizes that the Ontario Public Servants do have legitimate concerns in the lack of respect we receive from the government. However the facts and figures regarding the government's offer are not quite correct. The government has offered 1.95 per cent per year for three years, a total of 5.85 per cent, not six per cent. Since the members voted on the government's "final" offer, which was turned down by 88 per cent, the government has added additional funds for a few select members such as nurses and ambulance dispatchers. This will not affect the majority of members. The Ontario Public Service Employees Union is asking for six per cent each year for two years, as a wage recovery. In the early 90s we had social contract days which in effect was a wage rollback. From 1994 to 1998 we got zero per cent wage increases. THE EDITOR, The field of therapies to supplement conventional medicine is growing rapidly. It is important that the public be knowledgeable about treatments that are available. I am a reflexologist and manual therapist who works part time out of my home. In early March, I gave a brief presentation on Manual Therapies at the Belgrave Women's Institute meeting. In last week's Citizen (April 3 issue) a report of the presentation was included in the Belgrave News. I am writing to clear up some misunderstandings expressed in that report. The reporter stated that with deep muscle therapy, "... it takes at least three treatments THE EDITOR, I am following with much interest the progress of the project to enlarge and improve our arena, and can only admire the collective effort of so many citizens. However, I cannot refrain from wondering at the estimated cost of adding about 5,000 sq. ft. to the existing building and enlarging the ice surface. I have personally constructed buildings and I was also chairman of the property committee when we The Ethel Hall board held its euchre on April 1 with 17 tables in play. Winners were: 50/50, Edna McClellan; high, Hazel McKenzie,Walter Seiler; lone hands, Adrian Verstoep, Jean Bedwell; low, Annie Wight, Isabelle Craig, Velma Sleighthorne; tally, Irene Jacklin, Harold McNau- The 1996 strike was about maintaining the language "ue had in our collective agreement, not about money. In 1999 we received 1.0 per cent, in 2000 1.35 per cent and 2001 1.95 per cent. The buying power of our wages is equal to that of 1994. Prices of most everything have gone up since then. Everyone surely knows that when it comes to negotiations, one asks for more than one truly expects to receive, just as the government should not expect the employees to accept their opening offer. However, this strike is not just about the money as the government is trying to get the public to believe. The government wants to take back total control of our pension fund, money which we have earned and should have some say in how it is invested and spent. The government wants to cap our benefits. The union wants to maintain a fair system of merit increases for all members but the government wants "pay for to help." On the contrary, each situation is unique. Sometimes only one treatment is needed to lesson or to alleviate the ache or pain in question. Sometimes a series of treatments is required. The relief experienced, and the number and/or frequency of treatments needed depends on several factors such as the severity of the condition, the length of time the client has had the condition, and the general health of the client. When discussing Manual Lymphatic Drainage, the reporter stated that, "a very light pressure on these nodes (lymph nodes) can rid the body of lymph fluid." This statement also is misleading. The main purpose built and equipped the new Clinton Credit Union building. It baffles me as to why the estimated cost of adding an extension to our existing building and ice surface is equal to the cost of building a 50-unit apartment complex or about five modern hog barns fully equipped. There may be valid reasons to my concerns, and I would like to hear them sometime soon. Respectfully, Mason Bailey. ghton,Verna Crawford, Bob Bremner, Betty Kennedy, Hilda Holmes, Frank McKenzie, Alda Worden, John Subject, Marian Harrison, Bill Craig, Iola Subject, Raymond Kingsley, Violet Smith, Margaret Peebles. The next euchre will be held on Monday, -April t$ at 8:30 p.m. performance" for their favourite, full-time classified employees only. The union wishes to maintain the 80 Factor so burned out employees have the opportunity to retire a couple of years earlier. The union also wants to maintain the ability for employees to advance up the ladder when others do retire but management's offer is that they be allowed to hire new employees to fill vacancies, at premium wages and holiday pay, on three year term contracts which would effectively stop advancement of experienced employees Who now work for the government. This strike is also about recognition of the unclassified, part-time employees including many single mothers with children who need access to medical benefits and dental care. These children would be better off if their mothers were on mother's allowance but their mothers are trying to earn an honest living. They of Manual Lymphatic Drainage Therapy is to encourage the flow of lymph in the body toward the lymph nodes. A light pressured massage-like treatment is given to much of the body's surface. The light pressure is not just applied to the nodes as stated in the report. Lymph is necessary for bodily function. Impurities carried in lymph are eliminated from the body, not the lymph itself. The Grey Twp. firefighters welcome Grant Martin and Mike Alexander to their team. Both men started at the beginning of the month. Don't forget practice tonight! Sympathy to Dale Finch and family on the passing of Dale's father Benjamin Campbell. Congratulations to Jim and Cathy Stephenson and clan on the new 52-inch TV doorprize they won at the Saturday night dinner and auction. (We humbly request that you position the screen to point out the window and turn the volume up real loud on Saturday nights so that we can park outside of your place and pretend that we are at the drive-in! Much obliged! We are looking for some volunteers to help take down the skating rink boards. Please call myself or Bob at 887-2605 for information. Well, Environment Canada seems to feel that we are heading into more spring-like weather this week. Hopefully that will see more people out and about in Ethel. Enjoy your week. are on call, as required with no guaranteed number of hours. One such single mother that I work with recently only had eight hours of work over a two-week pay period. Management discourages these employees from having second jobs. They are to be available whenever called by the government. The union is asking that the government allow them to belong to a group benefit plan and that the government pay only 10 per cent of the costs of the benefits and the employees will pay the other 90 per cent. I really do not think that is too much to ask for. I also wish to point out that on the picket lines we are receiving a lot of support from the public. There are a few who view us with contempt but there is much more public support than you seem to think, especially from those who are informed about what the issues really are. The provincial government's popularity may I think it is very important for the public to be properly informed about the growing field of alternate health treatments, and I know that other therapists feel the same way. I hope this letter clears up confusion last week's report may have caused. L. Campbell. soar with big business. the longer they (the government) hold out against their employees but not with the informed general public who now have to pay more for many of the private services which used to be provided for by the government at lower costs tb thetaxpayer., Heather McMichael an Ontario Public Servant • Writer has questions Ethel euchre results Massage therapist clarifies report