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WSPAPER SINCE

December 21. 9X6 News OBS-2131 C hassitted 9860-6222

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A FORMER emplovee of the Pay-N-Save gas station on
Marine Drive is planning to picket the operation Monday to
protest his job loss eartier this month.

Pete Leviene, 22. said briday he
and another worker will likely
picket the new station Operator to
tell customers “what really hap-
pened’? when the station’s
emplovees were aid of f Dec. 10
alleged!y without notice or sever-
ance pay.

Two-year Marine Drive Pay-N-
Save employee Levigne claimed
new operator Tom Mehregani gave
the three workers no notice of the
layoff, “He came in and he had
our cheques made.” Levigne said.
“He didn’t even tell us we were
laid off."

EMPLOYEES REPLACED

Mehregant indicated the Pay-
N-Save workers were laid off to
make way for workers from) lis
Vancouver Gulf station — per-
manantly closed as of Deg. 15. The
Gulf workers, he said, worked for
him longer than had the Pay-N-
Save workers.

‘Y hired these employees on the
basis of a mew start,’ said
Mehregani, who took over the
Pay-N-Save station Nov. 12 from
operator Robert Vandekerkhove.

His failure to provide severance
pay to the employees was a misun-
derstanding, Mehregani said, ad-
ding he thought the former
employer would pay the severance.

He said he took steps to pay the
severance ‘the minute’? he knew
the workers would not get sever-
ance from the former operator. *'!
will pay them because 2am
responsible for that."’ said present
station operator Mehregani.

And Mehregani also said he did
not notify the employees or the
coming layoffs because he wits not
required to do so: “E did what the
iaw requires me to do."' he said. “TE

By STEPHEN BARRING FON

Newt Keporior

will pay them whatever (pay) the
law requires or even more."

On the workers’ record of
employment. Mehregani confirmed
ne put the reason for the termina.
tion as a shortiuge of work. ‘' They
have done nothing wrong.”

But he had also said earlier he
had replaced the laid-off workers
with new workers. "The employees
(who) worked at the other station
for me.” he said.

But former operator
Vandekerkhove and Levigne claim
Mehregani failed to honor an oral
agreement saving the | previous
emplovees be retained at the sta-
tion,

“The cecal was that we would
sell (the station’s inventory) under
condition that our employees
would keep their jobs."
Vandekerkhove said. "We would
aliow a smooth transition (of
operations) if these people kept
their jobs."

Mehregani, however, said the
agreement did mat say the
employees would Keep their jobs.
“We don’t huve any agreement

like that.’ said Mehregani.

PLANNED PICKEES

The planned pickets wilt mark
the third day of Levigne pounding
the pavement. On Dee. 1S and 16
he and another worker picketed
eich day for over nine hours,

Mehregani called the workers’
pickets unnecessary, upsetting and

harassing.
“Bur | can sympathize with
them...just before Christmas,"

Mehregani said.

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SURROUNDED BY Christmas flora, West Vancouver Florist’s
ball arranges a striking holiday flower arrangement out of poinsettias, potted chry- §

santhemums and single poinsettias. These colorful plants add a cheery touch to a

Merry Christmas.

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