June 16, 1991 Classifieds 986-6222 Office, Editorial 985-2131 Disptay Advertising 980-0511 Bill Rossum of Stong’s Markets High Profiles: 40 Distribution 986-1337 64 pages 25¢ Back-to-work legislation invoked to end lockout at NV elevators FEDERAL LABOR Minister Marcel Danis invoked back- to-work legislation Friday to end a labor dispute between five Vancouver-area grain terminals, including North Van- couver’s Saskatchewan Wheat Pool and Pioneer Grain Terminals Ltd., and the Grain Workers’ Union. The legistation, which was pass- ed Friday afternoon, should have grain handlers back to work this weekend. Danis said the labor dispute was “causing damage in the financial order of millions of dollars a day.” He added that 300,000 ton- nes of undelivered wheat had piled up during the work stoppage. The situation, he said, could not be tolerated any longer. In an interview on Friday morn- ing, union secretary-treasurer Henry Kanes said his membership would obey the back-to-work order. The B.C Terminal Elevator Operatois” Association (BCTEQOA), which represents the five grain terminals, locked out 760 members of the union earlier this week after a dispute arose over the issue of how many hours a week grain handlers should work. About 240 of those workers are employed at the two North Van- couver grain terminals, “We're not happy about it, but if they legislate us back to work because of the farmer then we'll go back to work. What can we do? It's the law,"' Kancs said. He added that the union has been negotiating with the BCTEOA for 18 months in a bid to resolve the dispute. Kanes said the union did not go on strike because it was afraid it would have been legislated back to work. The Canadian Wheat Board has been losing an estimated $6,000 to $10,000 a day since the labor dispute began at midnight last Sunday. Grain handlers currently work five eight-hour chifts a week and are paid extra on the weekends. The union said the BCTEOA wants its members to work 12- hour shifts without being paid ex- tra for weekend work. The union hus been withcut a By Surj Rattan News Reporter contract for 18 months. The BCTEOA said the union is seeking a 12% wage hike, which the BCTEOA has called excessive. Elevator operators also want grain handlers to work two 12-hour shifts with four days on and four days off. Day-shift grain workers are now paid $17.95 per hour, night-shift workers are paid $18.85 per hour: and workers on the graveyard shift are paid $19 per hour. Grain handlers who work on Saturdays are paid on a time- and-a-half rate and Sunday workers are paid double-time. Kancs said he asked Danis to appoint a three-member indepen- dent panel made up of a lawyer, a farmer and a private citizen to in- vestigate the issue of whether grain handlers could work con- tinuous 12-hour shifts without having their health and family lives impaired. But Kancs said Danis rejected the idea. ‘Let them (panel) talk to our wives, our children. No one takes into consideration that we work in North Vancouver and Vancouver but that we live in places like Mis- sion. That’s a lot of travelling time, When are we supposed to sleep?’’ asked Kancs. The fockout has congested Van- couver harbor with freighters waiting to be loaded with grain. On Friday, a Vancouver Port Corp. spokesman said there were 21 ships waiting to take on grain. Three of the ships were tied up at berth. [1 were anchored in English Bay and seven others were ded up at berths on Vancouver Island. BCTEOA officials could not be teached for comment to press ime Friday. Index MH Cocktails & Caviar —. 39) BM Litestvles.. oo, 43 Bligh Tech a .. 48° BTravel. . $1 Horoscopes 2... 46 BWhais Gone On 48 Weather Mondas. cloudy with showers. Tuesday miosis suntiis. Highs 20°C. flows 1000 Second Class Regwtraton Gumbe: s8as eee za oe REACHING EVERY DOOR ON THE NORTH SHORE SINCE 1 NEWS phote Cindy Goodman Sign up for semmer WEST VANCOUVER YMCA day camp staff members and mascot Willy ¥ encourage parents to sign up their kids now for summertime games and activities. The day camp provides children with fun vhings to do during the summer holidays. For more information phone 926-5541. om x