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September 18, 1991

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68 pages

Classifieds 986-6222

PSAC, federal government return to bargaining table

PLANS TO escalate federal civil service job action along the North Shore waterfront were averted late Tuesday when the government and its employees agreed to return to

the bargaining table.

Said Dave Walker, Public Ser- vice Alliance of Canada (PSAC) strike area coordinator for North and West Vancouver, Squamish and Sechelt, ‘There is a break in the talks and we're just in a meeting now discussing it. It ap- pears that we're heading back to the bargaining table."’

PSAC members plan to picket to Il am. today. The union, in- cluding its North Shore member- ship, also plans to hold a *vic- tory’? rally in) Vancouver today and return to work by 1 p.m.

As late as Tuesday morning PSAC had been set to escalate job action by picketing the Vancouver Port Corp.-awned and -operated Lynnterm terminal in North Van- couver.

PSAC had planned to picket the Lynnterm and Vanterm shipping terminals. Federal ship inspectors designated as essential service workers regularly visit the termi- nals.

Walker said PSAC had discuss- ed the strike escalation with other waterfront labor organizations, including longshoremen, and inad secured their support.

Lynnterm handles forest pro- ducts and general cargo. The shipping terminal employs as many as 150 longshoremen.

The union had also planned to take down the picket line at the Canada Employment Centre at Sth Street ani Lonsdale Avenue and move its protest to the local offices of Tory MPs.

PSAC had extended limited job action to the shipping terminal on Friday.

Said Lynnterm sales manager John Ellis, ‘‘They (PSAC picketers) were down here on Fri- day for an hour when a person was in to check a ship and they

By Michael Becker News Reporter

wanted to stop that. We don't have any federal employees on the dock, The ship inspector drives in, checks a ship and leaves."

PSAC also expanded strike ac- tion with a@ picket dine at the Kapilano 100 building Friday. The West Vancouver tower houses the Canadian Coast Guard Vessel Traffic Services regional marine traffic control centre. Federal staff atc the centre are deemed essential service workers,

The pickets went up for several hours during shift changes in the morning and afternoon.

Said Walker, “IBEW (Interna- tional Brotherhood of Electrical Workers) respected our line and designated employees respected our line and they had their management come down and escort them through the line as they could prove their designa- tion.”

But said John MacLeod, officer in charge of the Cunadian Coast Guard) Vessel) Traffic Services Centre, ‘tit just slowed down the shift turnover. The operation con- tinues as normal.””

A picket line at the Lynnterm shipping terminal would have in- creased the number of industries idled along the local waterfront by the federal strike. The strike blocked the movement of grain through the North Shore’s Pioneer Grain Terminal and Saskatchewan Wheat Pool.

As of Tuesday, 28 vessels were waiting in the Port of Vancouver to load approximately 850,000

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Index Wi Budget Beaters........- 48 Dr. Ruth.............. 44 @ Business .. 22.0... 25 WSports ................ 17 Classified .........-.-- 58 BTV Listings ........... 37 GE Lifestyles. 0000 43 BW Whart's Going On ...... 45 @ North Shore Now ....-. 27 MZAP..... ewe... 42

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Thursday and Friday. sunny. Highs 20°C, Lows 10°C.

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At day’s end

FISHERMEN AT the mouth of the North Shore's Capilano River pull in their nets as dusk falls.

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