— ee

\

C2 - Wednesday, July 15, 1981 - North Shore News

ST. JOHN’S (UPC), -
Spokesmen for two com-
_ panies say they have
declined to hire women to
work on offshore drilling rigs
because the giant floating
platforms don't have
adequate facilities to ac-
commodate women.

Mrs. Donna Hedges, 28,

No facilities available

for feriafe workers.

“The problem with these
rigs coming in from inter-
national waters: is that they
would require refitting in
order to provide facilities,”
said Ridsdel, who added that
the question of who should
direct and pay for such a
refit has not yet been

women

of Goose Bay, Labrador, has
filed a complaint with the
federal human rights
commission that says Harvey
Offshore Services and Petro-
Canada declined to hire her
to work on the rigs because
she is a woman.

The Commission
expected to consider
complaint before
August.

Petro-Canada'’s manager
of public affairs, John
Ridsdel, said the company
hires the rigs in ai very
competitive international

was
the
mid-

market and can do little to
ensure the rigs have facilities

Lewing
Koom

1717 Lonsdale Ave., North Van.

considered by host firms in
the industry.

“It’s a question that we are
clearly going to have to take
a look at over the next years
because it's obviously some-
thing that needs some work
on,” he said.

“I think that clearly she
(Mrs. Hedges) has ratsed an
issue which everyone,
including the Newfoundland
government, Petro-Canada.
Harvey's and the _ federal
government is going to have
to attend to.”

Ron Noseworthy, a
personnel official with
Harvey Offshore Services.

Summer Fabrics

off

we Carry a
wide selection
of notions & laces

said “some of our rigs have a
central shower. We don't
have private washrooms and
it would be impossible to put
a woman on 4 ship of that
nature.”

Noseworthy said his
company hires workers for
the firm that owns the drill
ships and consequently they
have to follow their client's
instructions.

“The complaint has been
filed against our company
but we're only ai sub-
contractor,” he said. “We're
not hiring for ourselves,
we're hiring for these
people, and we have to meet
their requirements. We can't
set the rules ourselves.”

.

Noseworthy said his
company was considering
discussing the issue of

female oil rig workers with
its clhents. “We are seriously
considering it, so if we get
the O.K. we'd have no
problems,” he said.

The Harvey official said
the company has no policy
against hiring female off-
shore workers and the
presence of women on the
rigs might be beneficial.

“We're not discriminating
at all.” he said. “Actually, it
would be a pleasure to work

SEW & SAVE! ;

This week’s special

re)
~O

° 988-5822

Pool. (Erle
photo)

Eggertson

ye

SUNFILTER SHADES

FOR

a

Nh

5 ee -

1° SLM

t

DS

“* Draft Sealtto.

WEATHERSTRIP SPECIALIST

= * RESIDENTIAL « COMMERCIAL + INDUSTRIAL
-~ (Established Vancouver 1960; 61 East Stn Ave. 873-5181

out there with a woman. It
would liven things up.”

anything we cut!
Thurs., Fri., Sat. - 3 days only

A huge selection of fabrics for fashion and
home decorating, trims, interfacings!

North Vancouver: 341 Lonsdal 980- a

Vancouver: 11th & Granvitie 136-4565. Ve

Open: Mon.-Wed. & Sat 9:30-6; Thurs. & Fri. 9:30-9
Vancouver's own fabric store since 1946