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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 2009-01-07, Page 4• Page A2 - Goderich Signal -Star, Wednesday, January 7, 2009 Town, workers sign first collective agreement with CUPE Gerard Crosses signal -star staff The Town of Goderich has success- fully negotiated their first contract with the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Local 4907, which will see them through to April 30, 2010. The contract is the first of its kind in town, and covers Public Works and Parks departments, as well as one position at the airport. In the spring of 2008, town workers 1 1 1 1 1 St rat foil! Alb 551 Huron St. 273-6780 r Show Schedule for Jan. 9 - Jan.15 Bride Wars Nightly at 7:00 & 9:15 pm, Sat/Sun Matinee at 2 pm Marley & Me Nightly at 5:45 & 9:15 pm, Sat/Sun Matinee at 2 pm Bedtime Storieb Nightly at 7:00 & 9:15 pm, Sat/Sun Matinee at 2 pm Yes Plan Nighty at 7:00 & 9:15 pm, Sat/Sun Matinee at 2 pm Tale of Despereaux Nightly at 7:00 pm, Sat/Sun Matinee at 2 pm S6.00 Tuesdays www.stratfordcinemas.com 1 1 1 1 1 1 held a vote to determine whether or not they wanted to join the union, and noti- fication to town 'administration soon fol- lowed. The most significant changes on the contract, according to town staff, have to do with seasonal parks workers, who have worked numerous years for the town. Those workers will receive additional compensation in lieu of the benefits en- joyed by full-time staff. Overall, the increase in wages for the next two years will amount to two per cent, and town treasurer, Judy Kay said the contract treats all employees fairly. "The outlook is good," she said. "It puts everything in black and white." "From the employer's view, we are very pleased with the collective agree- ment process and the agreement itself," said Goderich's clerk -administrator, Lar- ry McCabe. "It puts the first collective agreement in place for the town." The only major c)iange for employees will be the loss- of banked time. Whereas employees were previously able to ex- . hange their overtime hours for time off, the new agreement will see this paid out regularly instead. " Toward the end of the two-year term, McCabe said the notification process will begin again for negotiating the next col- lective agreement. The CUPE union representative was un- available for comment as of press time. SHEAR TALENT for men & women 45 West Street GODERICH — Please call -- Melissa or Debbie D. 519-524-6555 Walk-ins Welcome! • • PARK THEATRE 30 the 5quare,/ GODERICH 524-7811 Fri &Sat 6.45&9:15 Sun - Thur 8:00 "ForrAsric F M ux Furd" rs3fiat, rw1 ,461DAY et4fro fl eltaiwtt Sat & Sun Mat ADAM SANDLER 2:00 ata BEUHMESTORLES ligrmvi f • Jan. • 09 -15 EXPERIE 1.1.11 Ft NMI I sT corn (-ALA -:fit )\ l\ I c K l ()i 1 l t l (.:N' oN! Owen Wilson JenntferAnislon Marley Fri & Sat 6:45 & 9:15 Sun " Wed 8:00 Set & Sun Mat 2:00 wvww.movielinks.ca c.,;,f,F Photo by Dave Sykes The .Maitland River was flowing fast and furious to Lake Huron Dec. 28 after a series of thunderstorms rolled through the area, drenching snow -packed grounds with up to 38 mm of rain. Maitland experiencing high water levels __ate Sykes signal -star publisher The winter season has been any- thing but normal so far and recent thunderstorms and heavy snow packs have created abnormally high water levels and moisture -laden fields in the Maitland Valley Conservation Authority watershed. The Maitland River was flowing freely at its mouth Sunday, Dec. 28, 2008 after a day of pelting rain and thunderstorms the _ day before that dumped up to 38 mm of water on Goderich location only. 142 Courthouse Square 519-524-7432 parts of the watershed. The rain, coupled with the quick depletion of the snow pack, created serious water runoff and flooding in some areas. "The rain went right through the snow pack and there was up to two and one-half inches of moisture in the snow," Dave Grummet of the MVCA explained. ;`The ground was not frozen and was quickly saturat- ed so the river water levels became pretty high for this time of year." The rainfall caused the Maitland River to flood in the Minto area Bowes Publishers Limited A Subsidiary of . Sun Media Corporation - A Quebecor Company The Goderich Signal -Star, published every Wednesday, 52 timesear, at Goderich, Ontario is one of The Slgna1-Star Publishing Group of Community Newspapers. The oderich Signal -Star shalt not be liable for failure to publish an ad or for typographical errors in publication except to the, extent of the cost of that portion of the ad in which the error occurred. The Goderich Signal -Star reserves the right to reject or edit any "advertisement. Subscription rate is $40.00 per year plus GST. The Goderich Signal -Star is a member of The Canadian Newspaper Association (CCNA), The Ontario Community Newspaper Association (OCNA), and the Ontario Press Council. For any non deliveries or delivery concerns please call 519- 524-2614. Retum all undelivered copies, changes of address and sub- scriptiion order to address below. Publications Marl Agreement No. 40064683 PAP Registration No. 7602 Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to Circulation Dept. P.O. Box 220,120 Huckins St., Goderich, Ont., N7A 4B6 (519) 524-2614 • email: sspcircebowesnet.com We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Publications Assistance Program towards our mailing costs. (*) Ot;E$ECOtt MEDIA Canada • where the municipality was forced to declare a state of emergency and evacuate over 30 residents from a trailer parka Highway 4, near the intersection of Hwy. 86 at Wingham, was closed Sunday and into Monday, Dec. 27 and 28, as water spilled over the roadway. While January thaws are a regular visitor to this part of the country, a lack of colder weather has meant that the ground has become satu- rated and unable to take on any moisture. "We're in good shape now and things are returning to normal in the watershed," Grummet said. "There was a bit of frazzle ice that had built up at the mouth of the Maitland River but it moved through pretty quickly. It's the kind of thing you expect to see in March." Both the Maitland River and Lake Huron are experiencing higher water levels and Grummet attributes the rise' in levels to the number of storms that have originated in the United States and traveled north. Systems from the south add a good deal of moisture to the -area as opposed to weather systems that move from west to east across Lake Huron. The river levels are "in good shape" Grummet said adding that there was no indication in the weather for the next two, weeks to raise any concerns.