closes read

BOULDERS TWICE the size of cars came crashing down on the Squamish Highway Wednesday evening, blocking the winding mountain road south of Charles Creek.

By ROSS MEEK

No one was hurt in the slide iat brought 1,000 tue. ametres of rock down on the lughway. seven kms north of Horseshoe Bay just before 8 p.m.

Ministry of Highway crews responded quickly to the crisis, clearing one lane for traffic by 7 asm. Thurs. dav morning.

But two lane. were not expected to be cleared until Thursday afternoon.

LARGER SLIDE

“Utowas much farger than usual,’ said Highways’ district, manager Ron Win- bow, ‘We have called in a contractor, Pacific Blasting. to blast some of the larger debris.""

Highways crews had previously planned to close the highway Thursday to work oon upgrading the Newman Bridge, but workers instead concentrated their eftorts or cleaning up the remaining debris.

HEAVY RAINFALL

As with most slides that happen in the area. this slide wis preceded by “airly hervy rainfall Wednesui alter: noon, Winbow said.

Highways officials will scale Che mountainside and conduct a geotechnical survey of the slide site to

See Conditions

YANCOUVER

Neighbourhood workers set to

NORTH SHORE employees voted Wednesday 90 per cent in favor

of striking.

The 28 employees of the carmunity-oriented social und recreational facility took

he vsote following a breakdown tm contract hevotiations ino earfy December.

Talks began in date Ov- tober and the workers’ con: tract ran ont Dee. 31.

“dts the strongest vate ever and it shows what the members want,” said Service Office and Retail Workers

Nelghbourhood

House

By ROSS MEEK

Union of Cunada (SOR. WUC) vice-president Colleen MeConnell.

NSN employees voted 82 per cent in favor of striking during ther last contract nevothivions, but never cver- sised their right to strike.

hollowing Wednesday's votes the union sent NSNEH management notice of the

suike sote and a letter re- questing Management return to othe bargaining table Jan. 22.

According to unten bargaining representative Joanne Hochu this gives the union the right to strike anvaime after 72-hour strike Notice is served.

Bur CSSNEH board presi- dent John Takes suid) the strike notice letter was not dated.

Takes suid he ts asking the NSNUEGS labor kesser for clarifiganon.

But he said he was

prepared to meet with the union next Wednesday.

Lakes said he expected the strike vote, und said he suspects the union iff have another strike vote before actually walking out.

NSNH management: orig- inally offered the union a TWO Per cent wage increase in each year of a two-year con- tract, but withdrew she offer whet it wits net accented by the union,

The union originally acacd for a $2000 per inenth in- crease across the board, bur Hochu said the union is will-

ing to negotiate on this and a list of 24 other changes her Inembers would like to see made to their contract.

Both sides say the other walked away from. the Nevotiating table after their last meeting ino early Deceniber.

And while both sides said they were willing to si down and talk, they were waiting for the onier side to call,

Wages at thy NSNIE rine berscen $7 and $100 per hour, the majority of which are oon the lower scale, Hoehu said.