November 13, 1992 88 pages Office, Editorial 985-2131 Waterfront unions not to call on North Shore Taxi with employees picketing A STRIKE by employees of North Shore Faxi fas cost the North Vancouver-based cab company all of its unionized business on the North Shore waterfront. But despite the loss of revenue, a company spokesman said it’s business as usual. About 20 North Shore Taxi employees, who are members of tocal 213 of the Teamsters union, went on strike Nov. 9 when con- tract talks between the two sides broke down, The unionized workers are employed as dispatchers and of- fice staff. The labor dispute does not involve drivers of North Shore Taxi. The drivers are not union- ized. And while both sides have said they are willing to return to the bargaining table, neither side has made a move in that direction. Union spokesman Grant Wood said local unions such as the longshoremen’s union and unions representing employees of North Vancouver-based B.C. Rail are no tonger calling North Shore Taxi for rides. **They’ve fost all of chat business and that is a major part of their business. They've lost B.C. Rail, Seaspan, the Jongshoremen and a lot of others,” said Wood. Longshoremen are employed at severa) North Vancouver water- front terminals including the Lyn- nterm terminal, Neptune Bulk (Canada) Terminals Lid., the Saskatchewan Wheat Pool, Pio- neer Grain Lid., Seaboard Inier- national Terminal, Seaspan Inter- national Ltd... and Vancouver Wharves Ltd. Meanwhile all of the vehicles operated by North Shore Taxi run on propane fuci. Wood said that Superior Propane inc. is refusing to cross the union’s picket line to refuel a propane tank North Shore Taxi has at its Pemberton Avenue site. As a result, said Wood, the company is losing additional rev- enues of 18 cents a litre it makes by selling the propane to its drivers. The drivers are now getting By Surj Rattan News Reporter their fuel from other locations. “Virtually nothing has changed. (don’t know what the company is up to,’” said Wood. “Tt they want to table a better proposal, we'll talk.” But North Shore Vaxi genera! manager Subag Singh said the loss of the unionized business on the North Shore industrial waterfront has not had a significant impact on company revenues. He could not say haw much money is being lost. “We have made arrangements with the unionized outfits thar unless they really need us, they won't call us. They don't want a picket) Tine set up oat. their workplace. “There's a slight lass in charge accounts because of this, but as the days go by we are recouping our losses. Our major customers are the ones who call us on the go. We haven't changed our operations in any way,’’ said Singh. He added that he did not want to make any comments on the labor dispute that would ‘add fuel to the fire,”’ The company has taken out several newspaper ads explaining its position on the strike. “We are ready to go to the bargaining table whenever the union is ready to go. ft is them who walked out from the begin- ning. We were in mediation and they served us strike notice,’’ said Singh. He also denied union charges that company management have been dealing with the unionized employees ‘tin a confrontational and unreasonable manner.”* “The company was not taking a hard line. I think the union thinks they have made a big mistake. It is unfortunate that this has hap- pened,”’ said Singh. Index @ Automotive 27 Ei Classified Ads. . .39 Mi EcoInfo.... Editorial Page .... ®@ Home & Garden @ Mailbox 25 What's Going On Saturday & Sunday, rain. Highs E1°C, lows 53°C. Canadian Publications Mail Sates Product Agreement Number 0087238 Toyota introduces first midsize pickup Automotive: 27 Display Advertising 980-0511 Classifieds 986-6222 Distribution 986-1337 NEWS photo Torry Peters Color your world AUTUMN LEAVES blanket the grass on .Grand Blvd. to provide a colorful walkway for classmates Casey and Heather as they make their way home from school. le. Ete pe RTH SHORE SINCE 1969