November 25, 1992

72 pages

North Shore Taxi staff
target local post offices,
carriers in labor dispute

STRIKING NORTH Shore 1}

their job action to include
depots in North Vancouver.

About 20 members of
Teamsters bocal 213 have been on
strike against North Shore Tasi
since Nov, 9, They are employed
as dispatchers. office staff and
mechanics,

North Shore Taxi
hot on strike.

Union spokesmaa Grant Wood
said that Canada Post letter car-
riers, members of the Canadian
Union of Postal Workers
(CUPW), often tke taxis trom
Canada Post depots to their
routes,

But the Teamsters’ union is now
picketing the two main Canada
Past depets at 478 Mountain
Hwy, and 80° Donaghy St. and
are targeting North Shore Vasi
veltichks that come to pick up let
ter citriers.

Wood said the striking
emplovees are not interfering with
the operations of Canada Past,
rather they bie been asking the
CUPW letter cartier pet to use
North Shore Taxi daring the labor
dispute.

He added chat the Feamsters’
union has had 2 98% cooperanon
rate from the letter carriers.

The taxi urion went an strike
after mediation efforts to reach a
collective agreement broke down,

While both sides have said: thes
are willing to return te the
bargaining table, neither side has
made a move in that direction,

Wood said the strike is not over
the issue of wages but rather
training, seniority, shift and job
secruity and employee rights.

He added that five directors of
the North Shore Taxi bourd are
seeking total control of the com-
pany.

“Their ultimate goal is to con.
trol the company and break the
union. They want to do things
their way. regardless of the union
contract.

“It is
management

drivers are

my contention — that
has no intention of

‘ani employees have escalated

the two main Canada Post

By Surj Rattan
News Reporter

—
seiding this dispute and that dev
are onet, and hase not, been
negotiating in good faith,” said
Wood.

Management staff
dispatching the taxis since the
stant oof the strike. and Wood
charged the replacement workers
have been cewarded Cinancially for
their work.

“Bach of these shareholders has
found himself! dispatching to his
car(s), thos creating a contlict of
interest. Foam cpeculating that
tips are not being distributed
fauriv i’ said Wood.

Bur be added thar the union
cannon prove the charge because it
suotee tecording machine, which
rewords all calls and radio
transmissions, has been turned off
since othe start oof othe | labor
dispute.

Wood said ane of the tnion’s
mayor issues concerns the use at
the machine for disciplinary pur-
Poses.

But oa conpany offiend denied
albot Wood's charges.

North Shere Taxi veneral mian-
aver Subag Singh said) miamage-
ment has no desire to break the
UntOn.

“The board of directors already
have control of the company. But
tO suggest we want fo break the
UNION IS just preposterous,” said
Singh.

Heo alse denied the union's
chim) that the company has not
been negotiating in wood faith and
that management staff and drivers
had been harassing the workers
prior to the strike.

He alsa) dismissed Wood's
charge that since the surike began,
sharcholders of the company who
are now dispatching the taxis are
giving lucrative trips to their own
cars and ignoring the cars of the
minority shareholders.

have been

ES ES
Index

Budget Beaters ... 64
@ Business ...23
@ Classified .... OF
Mi Editorial Page ......... 6
BB Frugal Gourmet... . 63

Blifesiyles. 0. 000. BA
@ North Shore Now ...25
BSportss ..000 17
BTV Listings te. 2. 43
MB Whars Going On

Weather

Thursday & Friday. cain, Highs Cl Lows 2°.

Canadian Pubicatons Mail Sales Product Agreement Numoer 6087238

OR ON THE NO!

Oftice, Editorial 985-2131

Whistler stop: 49

Eggs in a nutshell
Frugal Gourmet: 63

Display Advertising 980-0511 Classifieds 986-6222 Distribution 986-1337

NEWS photo Terry Peters

Fire aftermath

FIRE CAUSED extensive dainage Monday ai the West Vancouver repair facility of Capilano
Highway Service Co. West Vancouver Fire Department firefighters were called to the scene
just after 12:30 a.m. The blaze gutted a five-bay vehicle repair building, destroyed two street
sweepers and damaged two dump trucks and a sign truck. The company is contracted to
maintain Highway 99. General manager Steve Drummond said the company is setting up a
temporary repair facility at the site located by the Lions Gate Bridge.

Se MELISS ESE Ee Ee
is eS Ueto Sa eae ne

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SHORE SINCE 1969

Regie