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Area residents unhappy with change in meeting format
Two Sections, 32 pages
100milefreepress.net
CUPCAKES SALES GO TO DOGS
Ken Alexander Free Press
There was a lot of tension and frustration in the Bridge Lake Elementary School (BLES) gymnasium when some 160 area residents showed up for a public forum about the possible closure of the school, but then learned the format had been changed. Folks wanted to be able to voice their concerns about the potential closure of the school and/or offer input about ways to keep the school open. Instead, they were greeted by four large tables and then they learned the School District 27 (SD27) trustees and staff had decided to hold a World Cafestyle meeting. The new format would see people sit at a table and provide input on a specific question, which would be compiled by a facilitator, and then people would move through the four tables. Then the quiet protest began. Most of the people moved away from the tables, and sat on chairs organizers had to bring into the gymnasium. When schools superintendent Mark Thiessen started the meeting, BLES Parent Advisory Committee member Julian Kenney asked for permission to Continued on A7
Heather Nelson photo
Graiden Mostad, left, and his older brother, Lathan, enjoyed the cupcakes baked by Jodi Lavigne, back left, and Kathy Bissat who are peeking behind the balloons. The Creative Moments owners set up their table of cupcakes on Feb. 29 at the Cariboo Mall and raised $538.70 for the BC SPCA. They sold out of more than 250 homemade cupcakes and doggie treats.
HEU laundry jobs stay a 100 Mile District General Hospital
Heather Nelson Free Press
The decision to keep in-house laundry is good news/bad news for Hospital Employees’ Union (HEU) members. The good news is jobs were saved in 100 Mile House; the bad news is other workers in other communities are losing their positions, says local HEU chair and shop steward Barb Matfin. “Obviously, it was good news for our local laundry workers and their families, but their joy is dampened by the knowledge that about 150 of their co-workers in other Interior communities will be losing their jobs.” On March 1, Interior Health (IH) board of directors announced it reached a 20-year agreement with Ecotex
Matfin: it’s good news and bad news because other union workers losing their jobs
Healthcare Linen Service Inc. to provide the majority of linen and laundry services. The exact location of Ecotex’s laundry plant has not yet been determined, but the IH states it understands it will be located in the Okanagan. Ecotex has provided laundry and linen management services to hospitals, ambulatory care centres, and other medical facilities for more than 30 years. It has one location in Abbotsford, and five locations in the United States. Health centres services affected by the privatization are located in Kelowna, Kamloops, Nelson, Penticton and Vernon.
The hospitals in 100 Mile House, Golden, Ashcroft, Princeton, Lillooet and Williams Lake keep their own laundry services. “Interior Health laundry employees have delivered high quality service to our patients for many years, and I understand they may feel disappointed with this decision,” says IH board chair Erwin Malzer. “While there will be job displacement within our sites, we believe the commitment by Ecotex to build a facility in the Southern Interior and hire residents from our region will offset some of the impact
felt. “We will also work with the HEU to support laundry employees as they consider options for the future, whether that is through accessing vacancies or retraining.” IH states that a total of 93 full-time equivalent positions will be impacted by the decision. “The number of 93 that people are hearing about is full-time equivalent positions, says Matfin, a lot of workers hold part-time positions.” It is disheartening the B.C. Liberal government doesn’t take into account the cost of privatization, she says, adding the new private jobs will be minimum wage, which is basically living in poverty. “All of the [HEU] workers are making wages they can support their families with. Continued on A4