Right to disagree Dear Editor: In reply toa May 22 letter from Ralph Lake: “Collins’ readership questioned.” Tam also a resident of the North Shore and am in daily contact with the public. Just as a matter of interest J see a large number of Collins sup- porters, not so much for what he says, but because he has the guts to say how he feels and uses his right to free "speech as it should be used wa freely, Those of you who are so willing to censor the contents of the North Shore News don’t. appear to. understand that it-is our right.to freedom of speech that also allows you to say how you feel about dear old Doug which would not be the case if cen- ERNE RetanyesNmD MERE ENaN Noe LEN Oey teen Sie ee eed Despair over heaith care Dear Editor: I have just returned from a six-day stay at Lions Gate Hospital (LGH), and am appalled by the deterioration in the quality of health care provided. After 24 hours in emergency, | was wans- ferred to ward 211. After two nights in 211, 1 was again transferred to the 4th floor ward just west of the main elevators. Compared with my stay for surgery six years ago this last experi- ence is worthy of scrious complaint. Ward 211 and the 4th floor ward are an intermixing of the seriously ill, the ambulatory ill, and senile and Alzheimer's patients. The latter take a disproportionate amount of nurs- ing time and effort, and are the source of irri- tation and loss of sleep for other patients. It is obvious that they are there due to lack of adequate nursing home facilities, but certainly hospital management could prevent their shriek- ing, babbling, and constant disruption being imposed on the other patients. Yes, they are to be pitied, but mixing them in with patients who should have peace and quict is a travesty. The nurses do the best they can, but cannot overcome the impossible conditions posed. I became hostite after a poor 88-year-old who was constantly. habbling kept asking for her breakfast starting at 7 a.m. She kept repeut- ing her demand seemingly without taking a breath for an hour. She finally fell asleep, but would not eat her breakfast when it arrived. My being at LGH was necessary due to severe intestinal problems. My diet was sup- posed to be “light,” such as jello, etc. What | got was the same as the other patients: cream soups, meai balls, potatoes and porridge. T finally had ta make a special request to get the jello. if, as we understand, the food is prepared in Burnaby, there is certainly ‘a lack of communication between the hospital, the preparers, and back again. We need serious atterition by our govern- ment leaders at all levels to take action to reverse the trend for nursing home facilities falling further and further behind need, thus placing this dilemma on the proper function- ing of a hospital. Iris M. Saxton ' North Vancouver : sorship existed at all. So my message to ail those who find Mr. Collins repugnant: Don't read his column! Would you know- ingly lay down on a bed df nails and tater complain that it was uncomfortable? Jess Groves - _ West Vancouver’ - A Liberal lashing? Dear Editor: Why has the Second “the Lions Gate for next week's commute — that would make sense? Are we being punished for voting Liberal? Brent Kerr. Vancouver * Narrows Bridge — been allowed to deteriorate so that it can't (as they say) be repaired at night like the Lions Gate has been during its lifetime? How about a bike Jane on ’ oe Be The Pee, : Brought to you by Jabour Sudeyko oy SALESMAN GETS FIRED FOR EARHING TOO MUCH COMMISSION . The two business. partners slung ‘their golf bags on’ ele shoulders and began walking to the next hole. “lan,” John said, “something's 0 ‘on my mind.” ‘What's 4 up, John?” John took a deep breath. “It’s Bob, we've got ' “to get rid of him.” bay | ‘lan was astounded. “But: toh, Bob's our top salesman. He's earning: $115, 000 in commissions a year!” . “Exactly,” John said, wiping his brow. “That: : guy's too good. And he's earning too much. All” difference between $115,000 and $30,000 should be fining our pockets, not his... “What do you propose to do?” * “Eire him. Tell him his position has been eliminated, pay ‘him off, and after he’s gone, we'll turn his best accounts into “house accounts and divide them between us.” lan was uneasy. “C'mon, John, that guy’s no dummy. He's going to sue us. The’ cost of the legal bill will far exceed any savings we can make by firing him.” “There will be no suing if you handle it carefully. Give him 5 1/2 weeks.worth of salary and hold back everything until he signs a release promising not to sue us.” The next day lan gave Bob is walking orders and the release form for Bob to sign. Bob was devastated “I'll never sign.” Don’) | Margot Cynthia Dan : Based on ‘Actual the other salesmen are earning about $30,009. the Cases At home, Bob was in a black depression. His wife was sick with worry.: “Bob, you're killing yourself. You've been staring at the walls for days. You've got to stop thinking of revenge. The bills are mounting, up. Sign the release and let's get on with our lives. The next day Bob was in lan’s office. “I'll sign. \'m desperate. Give me the money. | hope you roast in hell for this.” Thien Bob's depression turned to bitter anger. “I should never have signed. They treated me like dirt. | gave them three years of terrific sales, I’m not taking it. i'm suing.” . “Your honor,” Bob told the court, “thie agreement was unconscionable. | was under a great deal of mental and financial stress. The company. put Pressure on me by withholding my back pay and severance package until | agreed to sign the release. They used their pawer to make me do what they wanted. It is unfair, make them pay.” The company defended its actions, “Your honer, Robert: was not forced to do anything. He took eight days to think about it. He could have consulted a lawyer, He didn’t. He came back and agreed to sign the release. There is nothing wrong with the agreement. Uphold its validity.” Was the signing of the release unconscionable? YOU! BE . THE JUDGE. Then look below for the court’s decision. “Have you been wrongfully dismissed? We can help.” Lawyers who answer Your legal needs in plain language Call for your FREE Consultation Cluster’s last stand Dear Editor: It is unconscionable that the trees constituting the remnant of a mature second-growth forest in Premier Street be removed to make way for a soccer field. On my frequent running excursions I regularly pass these ees and feel awed by und grateful for their cool, regenerating presence. {tis important that children (and adults alike) come to know that our health and well-being are intricately connected with the guarding of such clusters. Once an ecosystem is demolished it is invariably lost. It seems reasonable to assume that special interest groups are behind the polarization of the issue in terms of the sports needs .. of children versus the preservation of the environment, But hopefully communities will ultimately have the wisdom to reject such divisive depictions and embrace practices that regard the destruction of the natural environment as a threat to all. Nana Mercer North Vancouver @ Overalls ° Shortalls. e Jumpers ¢ T-Shirts e Pants ¢« Rompers | Cay ee oe Sree rs Sere leer nr ne STE ARTA SS Jabour Spence Joseph Sudeyko Suite 300 - 233 West Ist St., N. Van. 986-8600 DECISION ) "UNCONSCIONABLE. Mr. Company, | order you to pay Bob 4 1/2 months salary in lieu of notice. “There was inequality in bargaining. You used your power to get the release signed. And that resulted in an unfair settlement.” ~ WHILE QUANTITIES LAST ~ ' Today's decision is based on the facts of the case and the law of ALBERTA. If you have a similar problem, consult Jobour Sudeyko. Claire Bernstein is a lawyer and syndicated columnist. Copyright 1996 Haika Enterprises.