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Zurich Citizens News, 1974-11-28, Page 1[rikoh NO. 48 FIRST WITH THE LOCAL NEWS THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 1974 BENDIX ON STRIKE - Employees at Bendix Homes in Hensall began picketing the two plants on Sunday night, halting production of mobile homes and recreational vehicles. Cause of the strike is listed as the company's failure to include a cost -of -living clause in a new two-year contract offer. A group of the pickets is shown here at the entrance to the newest of the two Hensall plants. NEW MUNICIPAL OFFICIALS - A new clerk -treasurer and a new hydro manager were appointed last week for the village of Zurich, to take over the dual responsibilities of Doug Armstrong, who is leaving shortly for Smith Township near Peterborough. Shown here to the left of Mr. Armstrong is Mrs. Dori Oke, who will be sworn in December 4 as the clerk -treasurer, while on the right is Charles Eckel, who will assume the duties of hydro and water manager. Bendix employees out on strike Failure by this area's larg- est employer to include a cost - of -living clause in its latest contract offer was called a major factor last Friday in an overwhelming vote to strike by 285 union workers. Picket lines went up Sunday midnight around the two Bend - ix Home Systems Ltd. plants in Hensall, halting all product- ion of mobile homes and rec- reational vehicles. Members of Local 3054 of the United Brotherhood of Carp- enters and joiners of America met in the Hensall town hall after work. They rejected the contract offer, 22245. Negotiations that began Oct- ober 1 on a contract to begin November 1, produced near agreement ona rise in wages. The current basic wage is $3.38 an hour; the company offered $1.30 more over two years; the union still wants $1.35. However, although a cost - of -living clause was negotiat- ed, none appeared in the latest management offer presented last Wednesday. Union officials expressed surprise. They had expected some cost -of -living formula but at a lower level than their members sought. There is also a difference In health and welfare benefits. The union is asking that insur- ance premiums be paid by the company, not the employees as at present, when an employe; is sick or on a leave of absence, Stuart Craine, chief shop stewart in the Oxford Street plant, said that "with the last contract we lost money . If we accept this one we will still be down without a cost-of- Jiving ost-ofliving clause. "We're talking of buying pow er. " Mr. Craine added that under previous owners (Bendix bought the Hensall plant in 1972; prev- ious owners were Boise Cascade and General Coach Works of Canada). "This was the best - paying and best operated place to work in the area. "But it's been getting prog- ressively worse. There's a big turnover of employees and very low morale. We aren't fooling around anymore..." The two Hensall facilities (continued on page 12) 15 PER COPY Elections Monuay in most municpalities Monday, December 2, is election day in many area municipalities as various people contest positions on councils and school boards. Electors in the communities of Hay Town- ship, Hensall, Grand Bend, and Stanley Township all have the right to exercise their franchises, while in the Village of Zurich only the actual property owners will have the right to vote on the question of a new municip- al building. In all instances the polls will be open from eleven o'clock in the morning until eight o'clock in the evening. Probably one of the closest contests is expected in Hay Township, where the present reeve Joseph Hoffman is being challenged by his deputy, John Tinney. Many ratepayers are predicting this to be a tight race, Also in Hay Township there are four men running for three council seats. In the race are incumbents, Lloyd Mousseau and Lionel Wilder, along with two challengers, Don Geiger and Tony Bedard. In Hensall there are six cand- idates for the four seats on council. Running are all four incumbents, Murray Baker, Len Erb. Harold Knight and Neilands, and they are being opposed by William Fuss and Janis Bisback. Reeve John Baker was elected by acclamatr ion. Stanley Township votes will not have an election for reeve, deputy -reeve or councillors, but they do have the right to exercise their franchise as far as school board representation is concerned. Five candidates are in the running for two seats on the Huron County Board of Ed- ucation, and a resident of Stan- ley, Bob Peck, is making a strong bid to make the grade. The candidates along with Mr. Peck are incumbent Molly Kunder, of Seaforth, Morgan Smith, of Bayfield, and Rob Gates and Harvey Hammond, both of Vanastra. A full slate is on the board for the village of Grand Bend, where former reeve John Payne is challenging the incumbent, Bob Sharen. Two men, Rollie Grenier and Tom Webster are battling for the deputy -reeve position, and there are at least five candidates in the race for three seats on council Property owners in the village of Zurich will have the chance to vote yes or no to the quest- ion, " are you in favor of build- ing a n ew municipal building to replace cramped quarters in a building which is more than 100 years old, at a net cost of $27, 000 after taking into acc- ount receipts from other sources (grants, etc. , ) Electors in Zurich are remin- ded that only the actual proper- ty owners will have the right to vote on this question, and unless a rnan and wife are list- ed as joint owners only one or the other will be able to exer- cise their franchise. The Community Centre in Zurich will serve as the elect- ion centre in Zurich for both polls, and voting time will be from 11 a.rn. to 8 p.m. 0 Nominations for the fourth seat on the Zurich council opened on Mondayof this week, and will continue until five o'clock Friday afternoon. At press time there was still no sign of any candidates being nominated for the position. Public n+ , eeting ws interest inro osal p p Practically no opposition to a plan for a new municipal building in Zurich was shown at a public meeting called to discuss the issue last Wednesday night. About 25 to 30 residents of the village turned out to hear details of the proposal. According to the members of council, the cost to the munic- ipality would be only $27, 000. This amount would be debent- ured over a 15 -year period, and after rental income were deducted would cost each prop- erty owner about two to three dollars per year. Retiring reeve Jack Turkheim told the gathering that new mun icipal offices might help to attract industry Into the village. "Let's show people we're prog- ressive here and we're not dying a slow death, " he added, The Swiss theme for the off- ices is designed to coincide with a planned gradual conver- sion of the downtown core to resemble the city from which the village derives its name. Incoming reeve Fred Haberer explained to the gathering why a new building was necessary, pointing out that the floor in the present building is deterior- ating quickly. He also added that when a delegation carne to visit the council at a meetin€ there was no room for them. Councillor Leroy Thiel told the meeting how the council hoped to finance the project, explaining that a federal -prov- incial capital winter works loan of $55, 500 has been approved for the new building. The loan is forgiveable. Several persons attending the meeting voiced disappointment in the fact that some residents who have been active in Carry- ing around petitions opposing the plan, and writing letters in the local newspaper condem- ning the project, were not pres- ent at the information meeting. "Surely they would have the decency to attend the meeting and hear the details of the proposal, " one resident said. If the plan is approved by the property owners, construct.. ion on the new building could begin in January.