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The Goderich Signal-Star, 1982-06-09, Page 4PAGE 4 —GODERICH SIGNAL -STAR, WEDNESDAY; JUNE 9,1962 DAVE This putrid piece is Offered to the diabolical and paradoxical bunglings of bureaucracy and government. The democratic system has its pitfalls and everyone, certainly, has their own warm 4 memories of strangulation by red tape or unintended injustices on the part of government at any level., The bigger the government, the bigger the faux pas. The Conservative government of Ontario is a little red in the face this week with respect to commemorative medallions that the government had minted in honor of the proclamation of the constitution. The medallions excitedly and proudly boasted, "We're proud to be Canadian," but were actually minted in the United States. Which shouldn't lend itself to any measure of pride. The government had the medallions minted to be distributed at Queen's Park to people attending the proclamation \day festivities. A Canadian firm produced the blank medallions but they were then shipped to Rochester, New York to be stamped. 'To add to the embarassment of the distinctly Canadian medallions, the 2,000 coins minted in . French contained a grammatical error. No sense spending good money in your country or province when someone else can do the job. The government claims the coins could not have been stamped in time for the festivities by local companies, so the work was shipped south. We waited patiently for the constitution, it wouldn't hurt if the commemorative medallions were a bit tardy. The Ontario crime fighting network, the Ontario Provincial Pollce, are now deser- vedly protected by bullet-proof vests, mandatory gear for all police in the province. But, while the provincial government has shelled out $3.6 million to outfit 16,000 of- ficers with the vests, the Cambridge riritvPP1cti!ell;; ef;nivliny .c:212,3 to have forgot that some crime fighters are equipped with breasts. Ooops. As a result, a good percentage of the 290 policewomen in the province can't wear the protective vests without some disomfort. For many female officers, with ample bosoms, the vests are simply irritating and uncomfortable. ,,So the Ontario Pollee Commission has ordered the vests returned to the manufacturer and altered to ac- comodate the female anatomy. It may be difficult for the male contingent of the OPP to relate to the constricting problem plaguing the female side of the staff. However, to draw an analogy that would remove the smirks from the male officers, the president of the Toronto Police Association said a comparable situation to men would be issuing jock supports about two sizes too small. Get those vests rectified e l,:da ty, The vests were reportedly ordered to measure and are capable of stopping bullets from .22 and .38 calibre handguns. The Toronto Police Association president also denied rumors concerning the issuance of armor -plated bras to the female police of- ficers, claiming it wasn't a feasible alter- native. Considering the number of police officers in the province, a vest issued to an officer of average build, could be used by other of- ficers if the need arose. But how many police officers would be willing to sport a protective vest with bumps. Not many, I suspect. In the meantime, hailing to abide by police regulations, policewomen across the province are tenderly tucking anatomical parts behind the safe confines of protective vests. *CNA BLUE RIBBON AWARD 1979 Second class mail registration number -0716 SINCE 1848 THE NEWS PORT FOR GODERICH & DISTRICT rounded 1. 1441 mid peilUlMd ovary 4redeaeby N gederede, Ontario. Member of the CCNA and OWNA. Adver- tising rates on request. Sultocriptleas .arable 1" edwrote •14.4414 Canada, 'MN to U.S.A.. 'ld,N to .11 other coon. trent, single copies IW'..Dlgley e/ewfUlog ranee .vdUbie en request. Please ash for Rete Card Mo. 11 effective Oc- tober c.tober 1. 1441. Seamed due mall di.gUMflem the *sr 4114. Advertising Is .cc.p*ed on the cotdNion that M the creat of typographical moor. the .d..r0 M4 space eow/fed by the erroneous Item, together with reosenei e ellowence ler slgmetwe. wt0 tat he gorged for bet that belong of the ahartlssmont wlll be pod for et the op- plk.bee ret.. M the ovate ale type/m.1W atter adv rtUMg geode or services ate wrong price. goods or services may eat h. tell. AlswtbMp w aasely en eller he sole, anti stay be wNldrewn et any tom.. The Slgna68ter Is not responsible for the less er damage of a.ssNdf.d aims u1pts. photos or oohs materiels used for reproducing pur. PUBLISHED BY: SIGNAL -STAR PUBLISHING LIMITED ROBERT G. SHRIER-President and Publisher DONALD M. HUBICK-Advertising Manager DAVID SYKES-Editor P.O. BOX 221, HUCKINS ST. INDUSTRIAL PARK GODERICH N7A 466 FOR BUSINESS 01 EaTOINAL OFpIEBS phase phone (519) 524-8331 Audacious trustees Times are tough all over and there are no guarantees or promises for the average taxpayer that the economy will be anything but inflexible, as it is today. That has universal application, except for those who toil on your behalf as trustees for the county system of education. Employable people are losing jobs, many with jobs are granting concessions to employers, as a last resort to keeping jobs, as a last resort to provide for families. The economy is heaping hardship upon families, faating stricter adherence to budgets, forcing an end to in- diccriminate spending and simply forcing people to restructure their lifestyle. At a time such as this, it is utterly and demonstrably ludicrous, and bordering on criminal, that the board of education trustees would see fit to grant themselves an increase over 33 per cent. Board members were receiving $300 a month for toils on behalf of taxpayers, but now, in their wisdom, or sheer lack of it, have upped their mon- thly stipend to $400. The move was made in February in a committee tiII Ah nary a dissenting voice_ It would, at the least, suggest to taxpayers that the trustees finely believe the workload warrants the $100 a month increase. To even suggest that all trustees are deserving of such a generous increase is tantamount to deceit and should be viewed as such by the public. Few people have the luxury of establishing their own salaries. Within guidelines, municipal councils and the board of education have been granted that generate; op- tion. Goderich town council, for example, has been open with its deliberations on salaries, always up front and regardless of whether or not ratepayers agreed with the result, council stated its case. Admittedly, board trustees, under the education act, are allowed to set salaries up to $400 a month. But, should they have the money simply because it's there for the taking. Well, the decision is left to them and they had no qualms about grabbing it, all of it. The board has come under legitimate criticism in the past over salaries. In support of trustees, they have been performing the tasks of the job for $300 a month for many years. But then, everyone who ran for a position oh the board knew what the salary was beforehand. If the job was worth more, they had the option of not seeking re- election or at least granting a suitable inaease while explaining to the public that the demands of the work warranted said increase The board prefers to act in unilateral and discreet ways, without regard for its accountability to the taxpayers, e trustees should be accountable for their action and no. doubt woeful tales, with respect to the latest increase, will abound. Some of the trustees will reluctantly be able to turn their memories back to the budget session .of April, 1980. As painful as it was, on the insistence of trustee Dave Gower, the 15 other trustees agreed to take a cut in pay. Gower, whose motives were not susPect at any time, insisted that in the face of rising costs, the board trustees, could set an example by taking a cut in salary, thereby restoring faith in the taxpayer: That night the board office was filled with municipal politicians and ratepayers from the county and the board trustees showed a rare bravado as they agreed a cut would act as a noble gesture on their behalf. That bravado faded behind the discreet and undoubtedly more com- fortable confines of closed doors. With no ratepayers or politicians present, the board restored its $3,600 annual salarya few months later. That move alone destroyed the image and credibility i, the board had secured in the budget meeting just a few months earlier. But there was no thought to integrity or accountability. On second thought, they wanted the money more. The board is not suspect in its motives and certainly n- one doubts that trustees attempt to work diligently on behalf of the ratepayers they represent. Certainly, many trustees put in long hours, attend several meetings and generally show a personal regard for the concerns and problems connected with education. This is not an attempt to openly vilify that diligence, but it is not applicable across the board. The board displayed unmitigated gall and audacity in claiming stakes to the maximum $400 a month salary. They handle a budget in excess of $30 million annually, : r per cent of which is paid in salaries. The trustee increase will add another $20,000 to that budget. Taxpayers have a right to be angry about the 33 per tenet increase, considering it was granted in a clandestine manner. Let your trustee know how you feel and at the least demand an explanation for the increase or ask that the decision be rescinded. If the hoard believes trustees eel that salary, they should state why, publicly. If the explanation isn't satisfactory, Ute increase isn't warranted. D.S. Strike affects community There are pros and cons to every labor dispute and the present strike at INCO in Sudbury is no exception. On the one hand the strike has been classified as a suicide strllre by the company and the press and on the other hazed the workers are angered by the recent settlement reached by their= counterparts in Thompson Manitoba_ The strike could turn out to be longer and possibly more bitter Mal 'the eight rltanthi walkout its 1970-79. At that Berne the local economy staggered through the dnrati n of the strike on money that had been accumulated through years of labor peace. However. this time the ecanoanie outlook Eel far worse and many businesses are a netted to go bankrupt should the strike Past for more than several weeks There is no doubt on the part of the union that the $450 million deficit INC© is experiencing is due .to poor financial planning and investments in other countries. That in their opinion is the root cause of the problems.. They also believe that the operation in Sudbury is making money for the carnparry and as a result a better wage offer should' be given to there. As is corrnnmrr ire such disputes it is difficult to get the full picture on the financial aspects. tweaked. One thing is certain, Sridbury merchants and the miners themselves will stiffer insurmountable losses dining the strike, while INCO will be able to at least absorb a greatdeal of the loss a'Eten the etonorny begins to pick nP. The question is vita it be worthwhile for the residents of Sur . to have to suffer througli another strike_ ICS. Coastline By Dave Sykes DEAR READERS SHIRLEY KELLER Who studies the studies? Who monitors the statistics? Who do you believe? A professor of economics at the University of Guelph, Douglas Auld, told last weekend's meeting of the Ontario Public School Trustees' Association (OPSTA) that public sector wage settlements in Ontario, including those won by teachers, are lagging behind those achieved in the private sector. Auld said that contrary to the growing com- plaint that public sector wage settlements are getting out of control and a major contributor to high taxes and high government deficits, they arein fact running behind the rate of inflation over the last few years. Auld's finding are in conflict with those of W.Roger Worth, director of public affairs for the Canadian Federation of Independent Business. Worth says that in the first three months of this year from the latest figures available, public sector workers in Canada won increases that averaged 12.4 percent per year - nicely in tune with inflation rates as they have been reported (if you can believe those reports! ). Worth also says that settlements in the private sector averaged only 9.7 percent, almost three percentage points less than the civil servants. And Worth adds fuel to the flame by com- menting that in the United States, where public servants do not have the right to strike, in= creases were 4.8 percent in 1981 and five percent in 1980. 1 suppose it could be argued that Auld was quoting Ontario stats; Worth was quoting Canada stats. There may indeed be some re conal discrepancies. But this week 1 also talked to a school trustee and convention -goer from the other side of the province - Lanark County near Ottawa to be precise_ I deliberately avoided talking to Huron County trustees since I feared they world be more guarded in their comments -than usual,. because of the delicate nature of the issue. 1 asked my Lanark trustee how the afrerage school board member had viewed Auld's remarks, itt light of the fact that many Ontario school boards have experienced teacher strikes in the past or have been involved in some dif- i ficult and bitter bargaining sessions to satisfy teacher demands. My contact advised that in general, trustees believed Auld did not take into account all those things that affected the decisions of those per- sons negotiating with teachers. There was evidence, for instance, that Auld might have ignored such vital factors as the cumulative effect a 10 percent increase has on a 530,000 per annum salary as compared to the same 10 percent increase on a $15;000 per annum salary. It also seems possible that Auld didn't figure in the fringe benefits in the public sector which is generally recongized to be much more attractive than in the private sector. Those things must also be construed as salary. It's the old story of who is doing the figuring ,._ and what purpose is to be achieved ... and what you want the figures to say. Personally, I tend to agree with W.Roger Worth who says we've somehow developed a system in Canada where the cart appears to be attempting to pull the horse. That's an im- possibility at the best of tinea. We have .a situation in the post office, for ire stance, where relatively untrained personnel is paid in the neighborhood: of 525,000 per year while skilled labour employed in the private sector earns far less. The example I am most familiar with, is in my MT field where a young reporter with a jour- nalism degree (two or three years of post- graduate study after Grade 13) and working well over the normal 40 hours per week including many weekends - and accepting a heavy responsibility to know and understand all the major issues in the poninumity he serves and to report on thein accurately, clearly, folly and faithfully ( woe unto him if he errs) starts em- ployment (f he can find a job)1 at no more than $200 per week - that's $10;40'0 per annum! Community weekly newspaper editors who are well experienc a, in the field and accepting Rill, and complete responsibility for a staff of reporters, the truth of all editorial content in the newspaper which is read by men and women in all levels of society, and called on to be a kind of public guardian of rights and freedoms for all, will do onzceptionally well to earn $25,000 per annum at retirement! It just doesn't compute. And community newspaper wr�tters are only one small segment of the private sector's skilled tradesmen. Worth believes, as -I do, that the problem revolves around the public sector's right to strike - and to cripple, major parts of the economy in doing so. Says Worth: When General Motors workers are out on strike for example, consumers can always buy from Ford or the Japanese. But when air controllers strike, air transport is simply discontinued." I might add, for the purposes of this discussion, that when teachers strike, the right to ctassroor i instruction prepaid by taxpayers,is simply discontinued. If reporters strike, consumers can buy another paper, watch television or listen to the radio. Worth is dead right when he points out that public servants can force politically sensitive governments to accept high settlements just to get the system back in operation. And 1 support Worth's final sum- mation: "perhaps it is time our governments considered banning strikes in the public sector. As it stands,. the big settlements are disrupting the system and, in the tong term, "making us less competitive internationally." Finally, Inn reminded of another comment by my Canadian friend now transplanted in the United States: "One Marie Antoinette is enough." Marie, if you remember, was the gal who went down in history for saying, "Let them eat cake." The view from the top rungs of the salary ladder in these days of economic uncertainty mast be more responsible than the one expressed by Marie Antoinette. As one young lady at the cash regi ter in A&P said to me this week, "These prices aren't too bad if you are employed. But if you are one of the unemployed whose benefits are running out, it must be pretty frightening." Does it really matter who is lagging behind whom when you took at it in those very basic terms? Council will offer local meting on credit Dear Editor: 1 am a representative of the Huron Cooky Conn rnunfty Services Council, an organization of workers from various agencies and persons from the community interested in provfsfons of social services to residents of Heron Comity, Meetings, which are held every two fi vide informationon tee_` erent agencies, or a specific topic= We have covered socia topte s as Epilepsy, 1girthrfght, LETTERS Women's Day Out, LaLedte League, Development Handicaps, Vocational Rehabilitation and Mental airiest, 1Membership is open to anyone who is interested, Oar next meeting is at Vanastra Recreation Centre, Thursday, June, 17 at 10 am. '1'Ete focus of this meeting is "CREDIT'. Information will be provided on the Small Claims Court procedures and eonaunrer credit reporting. In attendance win he Ralph Ifopper, e from Stratford Credit Coemselfing Service, to explain the services offered by the agency which he represents.. Huron County is ane of the few areas of the province which does not have a Credit Counselling Service. Resident's of Huron are denied access to other agencies trie Stratford, London or Sarnia. Various agencies and government offices, including my own are contacted by citizens seeking sucfr a service, but rnteill be advised that they must seek their own via their hank manager, or other means. Some of these persons might have been saved from further .problems with the guidance and instruction of trained, impartial credit counsellors. Statistics demonstrate that in- tervention by a Credit Counselling Agency result4 in a lush reparnetrt of debts to businesses both small arrd large, so itis a benefit to the Turn to page 6