THE VOICE O

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July 23, 1993

-Oh, dear!

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Industry scrambles to adjust, port says reputation tarnished

‘scrambling to. mitigate the effects.

A STRIKE by BC Rail employees is sending ‘‘a negative signal to the international market,” according to a Van- ‘couver Port Corporation spokesman.

Meanwhile, local waterfront in- dustries service by BC Rail are

of the work stoppage.

The five-day-old BC Rail strike is presently having a fairly minor impact overall on Vancouver Port operations, but the port’s reputa- tion may suffer because of the labor dispute, said port spokesman Trace Acres.

But he added, ‘‘In the past, the port has had a reputation for labor disruptions and we feel that

By Anna Marie D’Angelo News Reporter

that is a bit of a myth.”

Acres said the two operations being hurt most by the strike are Vancouver Wharves and Fibreco Export Inc. in North Vancouver.

Vancouver Wharves was bought by BC Rail earlier this year.

Vancouver Wharves handles in-

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BC RAIL operations remain shut

down due to a full-scale strike.

that began on Monday evening.

BC Rail spokesman Barrie Wall said Thursday that no negotiations were scheduled be- tween the railway company and the Council of Trade Unions (CTU). ;

The CTU represents seven unions and approximately 1,600 workers at BC Rail.

The unions have been without a contract since Jan, !.- They were in 2 legal strike position on June 19,

In June, the CTU conducted

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rotating strikes at the main sta- tion in North Vancouver and in Prince George to back contract demands.

Meanwhile, Wall said that in- cidents of strikers spitting on passengers’ cars at the North Vancouver station on Monday night were isolated cases.

“Everything has been peace-

ful,’’ said Wall.

Negotiations broke off on Monday over the issue of wages.

Wage proposals between the two parties were not far apart at the time. .

The CTU had asked for a

Fat aN sie

SHASTA DAISY

A closer look at a common plant that is unjustly ignored.

News photo by Mike Wakefield

MOTORISTS STOP to watch as a young deer crosses the street behind Capilano Mall on Wednesday. The unusual visitor had been calmly munching on greens throughout the morning. Wildlife sightings on the North Shore increase as the summer progresses.

No talks scheduled in labor dispute

and cost of living allowance (COLA) in the second year and 1,1% and COLA in the last six months of an agreement.

BC Rail had proposed a 42- month contract with 2.0% in- creases for the first three years and 1% for the last six months.

The current wage rates for unionized BC Rail workers range from $14.60 per hour to $27.55 per hour,

CTU chairman Ray Callard was unavailable for comment to. press time.