MAY 14, 1999 waco Auto = Bright Lights rri Classifieds t Crossword Garage Sales Lautens North Shore Alert i fans Personais LIONS Gate Hospital linen worker Larry Hamilton addresses his question to a Hospital Employees Union representative during a wildcat s z “ Siow down p3 Blueridge dad fights school zone speeders Nissan Xterra 137 Sport utility designed for active lifestyles Rupert’s Land production up for 10 Leo Awards This Week n14 FREE NEWS photo Terry Peters in the hospital’s cafeteria Thursday afternoon. Workers were concerned about a management decision to contract out some linen bundle preparation work to a d'sposable products company. Kevin Gillies News Reporter A wildcat sit-in Thursday by Lions Gate Hospital labour groups ended when their concerns were taken to an in-house arbitrator. finen workers walked off the he hospiral cafeteria to discuss strategy regard- y* Tea enmtract-out some finen serv By around Ji aan joband convened in ing the hospital's deci pam. they were joined u with around 70 workers taking part, my ance and nutrition services: scale Contracting-out the target of hospitai union’s protest cording to tinen department shift supervisor Larry Hamilton, tive fill-time positions -—~ one currently vacant are being chopped because of a hospital decision to contract-out the prepara tion of operating room linen bundles which include towels, tray covers, clamps and doctor scrubs. Instead of the bundles being cleaned, folded and prepared by in-house staff, Hamilton said dis- posable items will be brought in trom Kimberly-Clark, which spe- sin products such as diapers and personal hygiene items. ut hospital spokesman Clay Adams said the positions haven't been terminated, per se: “We 1 those individuals displace- ment noti Over the transition “period of this thing, ... we will look at finding alternative employment for those individual within the hospital, [t certainly doesn’t mean we've turfed ar Bur Cathy Pinsent, Hospital Emplovees Union chief shop stew- ard, said the situation was brought toa head by “what we call a lack of enhanced consultation.” She said reducing nutritional services” hours, the contracting out of courier services and now the linen move sparked the walk-our. “The concern is th in alate,” Pinsent said. Bur said Adams, “We're one of the last facilities in the Lower nd to make this move. We mer with the union ase week to changes that may involve workplace impact. snot just dropped out of the sky today.” discuss “This GIGANTIC TENT SALE saturday & Suncdey thay 18 0 16, B0mn-6pm Cit Exclusively handcratted in iron and rattan, 36° tall. SKU #505118 Reg. $59.99 915 West ist Street, North Vancouver {behind Capilano Mall) 385-3000 tran Crafted holds 15 bottles of wine with ornate closing doors. SKU #629132 Reg. $109.99 SALE 79. 37 made of iron & wood. BighZn20" box SKU #505715. 11° Hand CERAMIC POTS assorted shapes, colours and sizes. Reg. $19.99 SALE 14. 97 SAUE S Ceramic VEGETABLE POT vegetable designs. SKU #505118 Reg. $3.99 sate 6. jenn on