deter PTA ial NORTH VANCOUVER- based BC Rail is preparing for a complete shutdown of its operations and bracing itself for a lexgthy strike following Vancouver media- .t tor Jolin Thorne’s decision Thursday to book out of coniract talks between the Crown corporation and the Council of Trade Unions (CTU). By Surj Rattan News Reporter / After the talks collapsed Thurs- day, the CTU informed BC Rail that it would begin strike action on Tuesday. The union had North Vancouver District PAUL ST. PIERRE: 9 FIRE DAMAGED a heritage house in North Vancouver Tuesday. Fire Department firefighters were called to 2545 Dowsley Court just before 6 p.m. Fire damage was contained to the upper floor and roof. The house is known as Nye House. The Tudor Revival home, built in 1912, is listed as a primary building in the North Vancouver District heritage inventory. No one was home at the time of the fire. Cause of the fire is under investigation. The value of the loss has yet to be determined. after contract negotiations break off previously issued 72-hour strike notice. While Thorne was unavailable for comment, BC Rail labor rela- tions spokesman David Cox said Thorne told both sides that ‘‘there was absolutely nothing to medi- ate’’ as long as the two sides re- mained as far apart on the con- tract issues as they have been. There are currently 150 out- standing issues on the bargaining table, the most contentious being the unions’ call for a 23.5 per cent wage increase in a one-year collec- tive agreement. Cox said the (CTU) had advised the railway that strike action would begin at one minute past midnight on Tuesday. BC Rail, he said, was conse- quently beginning ‘‘an orderly shutdown of our system.” Cox said BC Rail agreed with Thorne’s comments to the CTU that the unions ‘‘must significant- ly reduce its 150 bargaining pro- posals before any meaningful discussions can take place.”’ “We consider the 23.5 per cent (wage) increase, plus the total cost of the unions’ proposals, which are in excess of $45 million, to be absolutely ridiculous and unrea- sonable proposals to be on the bargaining table,"’ said Cox. He added that a shutdown of BC Rail’s operations province- wide would cost the company at least half a million dollars a day in lost revenue. The strike could be a lengthy one. Said Cox, ‘*Unless there is some significant move on the unions’ part, we could be in for a long and stormy struggle.” BC Rail chief negotiator Brian FRIDAY Steer into motoring news Automotives: 17 August 31, 1990 72 pages 25¢ NEWS photo Paul McGrath - Rail unions set to strike BC Rail prepares to shut down operations Foley said he was ‘‘amazed that the unions refuse to modify their position’ on the 150 outstanding issues which, besides wages, in- clude a complete ban on the con- tracting-out of any kind of work. Thorne, who only entered the contract negotiations on Monday, was originally booked for two weeks. The CTU represents seven unions and about 2,000 BC Rail employees. Contract talks between the company and the unions have been ongoing since March. A 30-month contract between BC Rail and its unions expired June 30. Officials from the CTU were unavailable for comment to press time Thursday. BC Rail was last hit by a strike in’ December 1979. The. strike tasted five weeks.