4 - Sunday, August 23, 1998 — North Shore News Teen fights firing over missing $10 Robert Galster News Reporter robert@nsnews.com NICOLA Swanson’s job as a theatre cashier has had its fina] curtain call. The 16 vear-old North Vancouver resident had worked 3: the local Esplanade Famous Players theatre for cight Swanson has held two Positions as a Considering she had pure her first car on credit, it is safe to say she needed the jab. problems started about ks ago when her man- ager approached ber and said her til had been short. The manager said this had hap- pened betore ~— something Swanson was cot aware of and gave her an ultimaniia: quit or face an investigati thar would lead to her firing anyway. ‘The manager also told Swanson she was going to receive a warning lette “But 1 never saw it... never signed it,” said Swanson. A few days later, on Aug. 9, Swanson appeared for her reg- ularly scheduled shift. “I did everything appropri- “PE worked my whole shift Once the evening's patrons had lett the theatre, the super visor addressed the entire crew and praised them fora jab well done. Afterwards, she asked to sce Swanson in ber office. “There was S10) missing trom vour GH.” said the saper- visor, “ET have to let you go.” Swanson tiled a complaint af wrongitl dismissal with the Ministry of Labour's Employment Standards Act branch a week after she was fied. Atthe heart of her argu: ment lies Swanson’s assertion of innocence. “I would never do that. ... supervisor, a camera, ‘sa manager around and other co-workers,” she said, making it clear that attempting te steal money from one of the tills would also be a stupid thing to do. Management: and supervi- sory staff at the theatre refused to comment on Swanson’s case and instead diverted calls to the Famous Players head office in Yoronto. However, head office staff offered little more than their local counterparts when it came ta attempung to shed light on the reasons for because her till was $10 short. tions is we don’t discuss miat- employment,” said D nois Kucherawy, vice prest: dent of public relations for Famous Players from Toronto, “Any employee in question should deal directly with our comp: herawy added as far as he knew Swanson’s had conssi- tuted the first complaint of its kind to reach the Ministry of Labour's Employment Standards Act branch. Swanson said she was moti- vated to lodge ber complaint prinanfy because she says she had done nothing wrong, but also because she is keeping an eve on her future. “It’s not that f want my job hack,” said Swanson. “It’s that T want my name cleared tor my resume after (working there) eight months,” Swanson has already started looking for another job. Car payments don’t wait for anyone. NEWS phate Paut McGrath NICOLA Swanson, 16, claims she was unfairly fised from her job as a cashier at Famous Players Esplanade CLAINS Protect yourself Hire an experienced ICBC Claims Lawyer JOHN NOBLE 669-9755 Free House Calis ately because knew they were Swanson’s dismissal. watching me,” said Swanson. “Our policy at public rela- “IT’S NOT FREE!” _But it Is Reasonable! PF ovowour 1998 VOLVO $70 15 Special Edition W SALE ON NO VOLVOS COST LESS 236 HP Turbochorged Engine ON THE NORTH SHORE Power moonroof 200 watt, 3 CD sound system 8 way driver's power seat Alloy wheels Fog lights & spoiler Sport suspension Traction control & ABS 5 speed or automatic Power x poskogs 1235 Marine Dr, North Vancouver 980-2464 . Ole 5964 “A trusted name tor Any yey AL _ 235 Donaghy Ave, North VanCotiver / District: ‘of North Vancouver ing reconvenes . Parkgate Coinmunity Centre, 8. Development Cost Charge Bylaw Tuesday August 25 funding 2nd floor addition 9. Procedure Bylaw 7:00 pm. . Development Variance Pertnit - 10. Fireworks Regulation Bylaw 4577 Raeburn Street 11. Bylaws - 3600 Block Mount T< Public Hearing on Bylaw 7023 . Development Permit - 1329 Seymour Parkway regarding the rezoning proposal for Marine Drive 12. New Home Protection CXY Chemicals Ltd. will be RECONVENED . Development Permit - 1748 13. Detached Parking Structures: at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, August 25, 1998 in Capilano Road Size, Setback and Building Depth the Council Chamber of the District Hall, 5. Rezoning - Mountain Highway & 14. Auxiliary Police 355 West Queens Road, North Vancouver to 27th Street 15. BC Freedom of Information and hear further submissions, Please call either For more information contact the 6. Development Permit - 5623 Eagle Protection of Privacy Act the Clerk's Office or Community Planning - Clerk's Office at 990-2211 or refer Court 16. Transportation Planning Advisory Seymour for further information on the to the District InfoWeb. 7. Review of Development Variance Committee proposal. Permit Processing Times and Re- evaluation of Bylaw 6934s Height Limitation Council Meeting Agenda August 24 - 7:00 p.m. Live on Rogers Cable 4 For mere information call 990-2211. working together for a better community