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BOULDERS TWICE
the size of cars came
crashing down on the
Squamish Highway
Wednesday evening,
blocking the winding
mountain road south of
Charles Creek.

By ROSS MEEK

No one was hurt in the
slide iat brought 1,000
tue. ametres of rock down
on the lughway. seven kms
north of Horseshoe Bay just
before 8 p.m.

Ministry of Highway
crews responded quickly to
the crisis, clearing one lane
for traffic by 7 asm. Thurs.
dav morning.

But two lane. were not
expected to be cleared until
Thursday afternoon.

LARGER SLIDE

“Utowas much farger than
usual,’ said Highways’
district, manager Ron Win-
bow, ‘We have called in a
contractor, Pacific Blasting.
to blast some of the larger
debris.""

Highways crews had
previously planned to close
the highway Thursday to
work oon upgrading the
Newman Bridge, but
workers instead concentrated
their eftorts or cleaning up
the remaining debris.

HEAVY RAINFALL

As with most slides that
happen in the area. this slide
wis preceded by “airly hervy
rainfall Wednesui alter:
noon, Winbow said.

Highways officials will
scale Che mountainside and
conduct a geotechnical
survey of the slide site to

See Conditions

YANCOUVER

Neighbourhood
workers set to

NORTH SHORE
employees voted Wednesday 90 per cent in favor

of striking.

The 28 employees of the
carmunity-oriented social
und recreational facility took

he vsote following a
breakdown tm contract
hevotiations ino earfy
December.

Talks began in date Ov-
tober and the workers’ con:
tract ran ont Dee. 31.

“dts the strongest vate
ever and it shows what the
members want,” said Service
Office and Retail Workers

Nelghbourhood

House

By ROSS MEEK

Union of Cunada (SOR.
WUC) vice-president Colleen
MeConnell.

NSN employees voted 82
per cent in favor of striking
during ther last contract
nevothivions, but never cver-
sised their right to strike.

hollowing Wednesday's
votes the union sent NSNEH
management notice of the

suike sote and a letter re-
questing Management return
to othe bargaining table
Jan. 22.

According to unten
bargaining representative
Joanne Hochu this gives the
union the right to strike
anvaime after 72-hour strike
Notice is served.

Bur CSSNEH board presi-
dent John Takes suid) the
strike notice letter was not
dated.

Takes suid he ts asking the
NSNUEGS labor kesser for
clarifiganon.

But he said he was

prepared to meet with the
union next Wednesday.

Lakes said he expected the
strike vote, und said he
suspects the union iff have
another strike vote before
actually walking out.

NSNH management: orig-
inally offered the union a
TWO Per cent wage increase in
each year of a two-year con-
tract, but withdrew she offer
whet it wits net accented by
the union,

The union originally acacd
for a $2000 per inenth in-
crease across the board, bur
Hochu said the union is will-

ing to negotiate on this and a
list of 24 other changes her
Inembers would like to see
made to their contract.

Both sides say the other
walked away from. the
Nevotiating table after their
last meeting ino early
Deceniber.

And while both sides said
they were willing to si down
and talk, they were waiting
for the onier side to call,

Wages at thy NSNIE rine
berscen $7 and $100 per
hour, the majority of which
are oon the lower scale,
Hoehu said.