HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Wingham Advance-Times, 1984-03-26, Page 241
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STRIKE AT PREMIUM -LLOYD FACTORY—Workers at
the Premium -Lloyd door factory in Wingham went on
strike last week, walking out Wednesday afternoon, two
and a half days before their stn1Ce deadline. As of early
this week the two sides had still not scheduled a
meeting to. resolve differences over a new contract.
Making the best of an overnight snowstorm, the
picketing workers built a large snowman to join them on
the picket line.
Would prohibit extra -billing, user fees
Nei
in strike at Premium -Lloyd
dons remain stalled
Contract negotiations be-
tween Lloyd-Tr11€ and the
union representing, about 145
workers at the. Premium -
Lloyd door factory in
Wingham rerAain stalled
following a Walkout last
week ,:
Woirs. at=':t'he plant
walked off the job at 2 p.m.
last Wednesday,; two and a
half days prios;`;to the strike
deadline of mid light Friday.
As of early thi ;,week, union
ard companyf egotiators
still had not •Sch'eduled a
meeting to renew talks.
Doctors want board to lob
against Canada Health Act
Members of the Wingham
and District Hospital Board
plan to meet with local
doctors in response to a
study the legislation and see
"the true idiocy now being
planned for you."
This d -other hospital—
boards
ospi e l—
boards must "stand up and
be counted," he declared. "If
you, as a communal body of
boards don't do it, .then
you've had it!"
Dr. Wong told the board
the Ontario Medical
Association has,been very
vocal in its q position to
various clauses within the
Act, especially those dealing
with extra -billing by doctors.
If the Act goes through and
the OMA decides .to
demonstrate its displeasure,
"we would be honor and duty
bound to stand by them."
One of the things which
might happen, he said, is
that doctors would start
request from�he president of
the . Wingham Medical
Association that the board
lobby Ottawa against the
new Canada Health Act.
After hearing the request
in a report from the medical
staff last week, the board
offered to organize a
seminar to find out more
about the Act, which among
other things would prohibit
extra -billing by doctors and
penalize provinces which
employ health care user
fees.
Using both a carrot and a
stick, Dr. Walter Wong told
board members that
whether they realize it or
not, the Act will affect them,
potentially cutting into the
hospital's revenue from
chronic care user fees and
increasing its costs.
He challenged the board to
charging hospitals for some
things they now do without
pay, such as manning the
emergency department on
weekends and attending
East Wawanosh Township
board meetings.
He said the OMA recom-
mends charging $100 an
hour to keep a doctor on
-call-over-the-weekend:-At-78- -opposing-thenevic%.
hours, that would amount to
$7,000 a weekend or $28,000 a
month,he noted. `
"If you don't pay, the
medical staff is not obliged
to attend the emergency
department.
tion would be willing to
meet with board members
either individually or as a
group to discuss ways of
Under the present system
doctors handling emergency
calls over the weekend get
only the OHIP fee for
whatever patients they
might see, he said,"and I
can' assure you it's nowhere
near ($100 an hour) —maybe
$15 an hour."
The doctors would also
charge $100 an hour for at-
tending hospital -related
meetings, such as board
meetings.
"You've been fore-
warned!" he told the board,
saying the medical ass'ocia-
OMB decision paves way
for Christian high school
A recent decision by the
Ontario , Municipal Board
paves the wary for a Christian
high school to be built in East
Wawanosh Township:
The decision was received
by East Wawanosh Clerk -
Treasurer Winona Thomp-
son on Monday and it settles ,
a matter which has been
hanging over the heads of the
residents of Hutton Heights,
council and representatives
from the Wingham and
District Interdominational
Christian High School
Society for more than six
months.
Dr. John Vanderkooy of
Harriston, a society spokes-
man, said Monday he and his
group are very pleased with
the decision and they defin-
itely intend to go ahead with
the school as soon as the
necessary funds can be
raised.
Council will deal with the
matter at its next meeting
Tuesday afternoon. .
Last year the society
proposed to buy a 7.9 acre
parcel of land from Lloyd
,Hutton Real Estate Limited
upon which to build a school.
Mr. Hutton received the
necessary severance from
6
the county land division
committee, but council
refused to pass a zoning
change bylaw which would
'permit a school to locate at
the Hutton Heights sub-
division.
Council and the residents
of Hutton Heights opposed
the *school for three reasons:
a lack of access to a public
highway, namely Crawford
Street; it does not comply
with the provisions of the
township's secondary plan
and the county plan; it
contravenes provisions of
the Foodlands Guidelines.
In reaching its decision,
the board said Crawford
Street clearly is dedicated as
a public highway in the
secondary plan and there-
fore provides access for the
proposed school. .
The county,plan desig-
nates the subject land as
agricultural and its policies
provide that institutional
'uses may locate in . areas
designated as agricultural
and residential without a
plan amendment.
The East Wawanosh sec-
ondary plan,- currently be-
fore the Minister of Munici-
pal Affairs arid Housing for
approval, designates the
"The public at large has
enjeyed.: - .doctordmociting'
for, quite a: long time," he
concluded. "They've knock-
ed' the medical profession :al-
most senseless and speech-
less, and that's unfortu-
nate."
Dr. Brian Hanlon, hospital
chief of staff and one of three
doctors who sit on the
hospital board, took a more
moderate approach, asking
board members for their
views as individuals on the
proposals contained in the
Canada Health Act.
The only one to respond
was Robert Pike, who ad-.
mitted he knew little about
the Act or its consequences
but said he was willing to
meet with the doctors to find
out more.
Dr. Hanlon explained the
federal government wants to
outlaw user fees by imposing
a financial penalty on
provinces which employ
them. The excuse is so that
everybody will have equal
access to health care,
whether or not they can
afford to pay, he said.
area as urban and restricted
agriculture.
Since the East Wawanosh
plan appears to build on the
policies of the county plan,
the county policies will be
applicable where the East
Wawanosh plan is unclear.
As a final comment the
board suggested the section
of the secondary plan which
says Hutton Heights "should
be allowed to develop in its
own style and to the
satisfaction of the residents,
has the effect of giving the
residents the discretion of
approving only those
developments that they
want."
"In conclusion the Board is
of the opinion that, although
the consideration of the
interests of the area
residents is a high priority
and of prime concern, the
council in this case has made
this a matter of sole con-
sideration to the exclusion of
any consideration of, the
interests of good planning or
the public interests in
general."
The board said it is
compelled td direct the town-
ship to pass the appropriate
zoning bylaw to permit the
proposed development.
Also, if the government
bans user fees, any doctor
working outside OHIP will
have to bill patients directly,
and the patient will not be
able to recover any part of
the bill from OHIP.
This will lead to two levels
of health care, he said, one
for the rich for whom cost is
no object and another for the
poor who can't afford to go
outside OHIP.
"Over a 10 -year period
(Federal Health Minister
Monique Begin) is going to
create what she's trying to
avoid.
"That's what concerns me,
not the $100 an hour for
working in emergency."
Such an arrangement
would erode the rights of
patients, he said, since with-
out the 'prospect of
recovering at least part of
the bill from OHIP many
could not afford to visit an
opted -out doctor. He also
intimated that if the Act as it
stands is passed, many of the
top specialists would leave
Canada for the U.S., where
they could command higher
salaries.
What happens if the great
specialists desert Canadian
teaching hospitals such as
University Hospital in
London, he asked. "Who will
to see a
legislation.
the actual dr
form an o
been
Hospitaltaken
However union negotiator same time, he added, the operate forklifts to load
Adam Salvona,of Exeter said union believes their action doors onto trucks instead of
he was waiting fora signal was justified and will defend using union drivers as
from company - negotiator them against any charges specified m the collective
Chris Eames of Toronto or a arising from the walkout. agreement, with the
mediator appointed by the "We believe the company machinery being driven
Ontario Labor Relations provoked and precipitated recklessly and in an unsafe
Board and hoped to get talks this strike," he said, citing manner.
underway soon. • several incidents including: Mr. Sa)nvona said he did not
Neither side would discuss —a production speed-up, know whether this was done
exact details of its including assigning 'of in an attempt to intimidate
bargaining position, but Mr. foremen to production duties union members, but said the
Salvona did say that except reserved for union mem- workers were upset by it and
for a dental plan, monetary bers; that appeals from shop
items 'are not the major —arranging to have chief stewards were ignored.
things on the agenda. More steward and safety repre- As well, he added, a strong
,critical from the union's sentative Elmer Schultz out rumor was circulating that
point of view are security- of the plant last week when the company planned to
related items • such as the safety inspector arrived impose a lockout at the
seniority rights and the to investigate a complaint plant, starting Monday
treatment of probationary about hazardous working morning.
employees, he said. conditions, involving fumes He said the combination of
Details remain sketchy from a solvent; incidents, together with the
about just what precipitated —while Mr. Schultz was breakdown in contract
the illegal walkout by plant away, ordering foremen to negotiations, "blew every -
employees. The company's
s. Ito
pu ►c s emen
has been a terse, ' one-page Two injured in accident
press release expressing
surprise at the strike, which Two men were hospital -
it notes was illegal and ized with injuries they suf- •
contrary to the terms of the fered in a single -car accident
collective agreement. (The at Wroxeter Saturday night.
strike has been legal since The driver of the car,
midnight Friday, but was Wilfred Borth of Goderich,
illegal prior to that time,) and a passenger, Brian
It says the „company had Gardner of Newmarket,
hoped to meet prior to a work were taken by ambulance to
stoppage and blames the the Wingham and District
-union-for-refusing--to sing -to a xtend— t- ;—tol g
the strike' deadline. It also mishap. Both were
n „`, a great ileal r
WittPriettare
y '"position," '
though- it• does not explain
what those positions are.
The statement concludes
that, `.`it is very unfortunate
this strike has commenced
without the' parties having
had the opportunity to fully
explore all possibilities to
reach an agreement."
The union, however, tells a
somewhat different story.
Though individual members
were unwilling to talk
publicly about the strike, Mr.
Salvona, business represent-
ative for Local 3054 of the
United Brotherhood of Car-
penters and Joiners of
America, blamed frustration
over foot -dragging and
provocative tactics by the
'company for triggering the
walkout.
He denied that the uni
Act. Federal MP Murray had called the walkou
Cardiff will be invited to saying that contrary to th
attend to explain the Act and popular belief that a unio
carry the board's feelings calls a strike, that decision is
back to Ottawa. up to the workers. At the
To open tenders Tuesday_
Special meeting planned on
hospital building project
A second passenger in the
auto, Allan Gardner of
Vanastra, was not injured.
Provincial Police at
Wingham reported that the
Borth vehicle, a 1977 Olds-
mobile, was southbound on
Huron Road 12 at about 10
p.m..when it went through
the intersection with High -
w , 87 • and rolled over.
Damage to the vehicle was
etimatt at 13,500.
•
thing out of proportion" and
led to a spontaneous walkout
during the afternoon coffee
break. The walkout "veru
definitely was not premedi-
tated," he added, and it
caught the union by surprise,
with some of its strike pre-
parations still incomplete.
Asked about the charges,
Plant Manager Gerry
Wilhelm strongly denied that
the incidents cited by the
union had been staged
deliberately. Foremen were
not ordered to take part in
production work or to drive
forklifts, he said, explaining
that the only one who could
have given such an order on
behalf of the company is
himself.
Foremen were instructed
to get certain things done, he
said, but they were not told
to do it themselves. As for
whether or not the incidents
occurred, he had not been, in
the plant and could not say.
He also categorically
denied that the company had
arranged to have Mr. Schultz
out of the plant when the
safety inspector visited.
"I can categorically say I
didn't know the safety officer
was coming," he said, ad-
ding that the arrangements
to have Mr. Schultz do a job
at Walkerton kiaerbeeii Ynade'
Please t . o Page. 5
A' final decision on whether or not the
Wingham and District Hospital will build a
new emergency and outpatient wing could
come as early as next week, after the
hospital board opens tenders on the project.
Before making that decision, however, the
board will get its long-awaited special
meeting to review pros and cons of the
project.
The special meeting, described as "an
information meeting to discuss all aspects"
of the building project, was requested by the
board's vice chairman, Hans Kuyvenhoven,
who reminded the chairman that board
members had been promised a chance to go
over all the details before being asked to
make a definite commitment.
In a motion calling for such a meeting, he
specified that a final vote would not be taken
"until the next board meeting," but left it
open whether that would be at the regular
meeting April 18 or at another special
meeting called in the interim.
During last week's regular meeting of the
board, Chairman Mary Vair announced that
tenders on the new wing will be opened next
Tuesday afternoon, and that a special
meeting had been scheduled for Thursday
evening to discuss the building project and
make a final decision.
However several members objected that
would not give them enough time to
thoroughly digest the information and be
ready to vote.
"What do board members feel about
opening bids one day and being asked to
make a decision the next day?" Dr. Brian
Hanlon inquired, asking if it would not be
possible to allow a week to review the
material before making a decision.
Others questioned whether two days
would give the architect time to properly
review the bids and prepare recom-
mendations.
"Every step should be taken so that no one
in the public could interpret this to be a ram -
rodding through," Dr. Walter Wong em-
phasized. -
Mrs. Vair told the board it would be ideal
if a decision could be made at the Thursday
meeting, saying there is nothing to be
gained by 'putting it off, but agreed that "if
there is too much information to absorb,
that's a decision for the board to make."
She urged board members to leave open
the possibility of making a decision that
night if they find they are satisfied with the
information provided.
Asked by board member Robert Pike
what the status of the press would be at that
meeting, Mrp. Vair told, him the press is
"not invited" to the special meeting.
The board was told that 18 general con-
tractors had obtained copies of the plans for
the new wing, indicating a brisk interest in
bidding, and that a number of electrical and
mechanical subcontractors have also ex-
pressed interest in those details of the
project.
Stewart Coupland is
the new T -D manager
The Bank of Commerce is
not the only Wingham bank
that can lay claim to having
a native son as its manager,
not since Stewart Coupland
recently took over at the
Toronto -Dominion Bank.
Mr. Coupland, a native of
Wroxeter who attended the
old Wingham and District
High School, said he was
shocked when he heard of his
move to Wingham from his
previous ' posting at
Leamington because the
announcement was unex-
pected and because he was
being moved "back home".
There are obvious ad-
vantages to returning to this
area. Mr. Coupland's mother
still lives at Wroxeter and hist
wife's parents, Mr. and Mrs:
Charles Robinson, live in
Wingham.
In fact he is staying with
his in-laws until his family
moves to town in June.
One disadvantage of the
move is that his son is'
enrolled at the University of
Windsor and his daughter
hopes to enter St. Clair
College at Sarnia in the fall.
Living in Wingham means
the Couplands will be further
away from their children.
After he completed his
high school education, Mr.
Coupland worked with a
construction company
before joining the bank at
Gorrie in 1955.
Since then he has been in
many branches, the most
recent being Leamington.
Coming home is not too big
a "culture shock" for Mr.
Coupland since he spent the
years 1974 to 1980 at Seaforth
and has been in: close touch
with the area and his family.
Last fall, Grant Currie,
another homegrown Wing-
hamite, returned to town to
manage theme Bank of Com-
merce.