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WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2014
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CUPE workers paid while they wait New contract for school support workers would see them paid until 2017
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New Westminster Secondary School students
BY NIKI HOPE REPORTER
nhope@royalcityrecord.com
Annaliese Meyer and Lorynne Machado, left,
Members of the New Westminster union representing support workers in schools voted 95 per cent in favour of a contract that reimburses wages lost during the ongoing teachers’ strike. CUPE Local 409 president Marcel Marsolais said the contract, which the union voted on Monday afternoon, includes a “framework agreement support grant” to offset the cost of lost work from the ongoing labour dispute, which at this point has no end in sight. “The grant is in place to make all of our members (whole) if they are affected by a strike or walkout till 2017, if that’s how long this dispute lasts,” said Marsolais. The pay reimbursement will go back as far to job action that started in May and goes forward indefinitely, the union president told The Record. “Certainly it’s going to help because our
were part of a school sit-in on Tuesday to voice their concern with the ongoing labour strife that has left them without classes. For more on what the students think about the dispute, see page 5.
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◗CUPE Page 5
Soccer proposal foes and friends pack meeting BY THERESA MCMANUS REPORTER tmcmanus@royalcityrecord.com
With a decision about a pro soccer plan anticipated to be made in less than a week, Monday was game day for friends and foes of the proposal. About 200 people carried posters and marched from Queen’s Park to city hall on Monday night to rally against a pro soccer proposal being considered for the stadium. Soon after, residents packed a council meeting at the Queensborough Community Centre and shared their thoughts on the proposal that would see the Vancouver Whitecaps bring a United Soccer League pro team to the city starting next spring. About two-thirds of the speakers supported the application, saying it is a great
opportunity for kids, families and local businesses. Bill Currey, a representative of Friends of Soccer, said Queen’s Park has a long history of use by professional sport teams. He said the 2,000 seats in Queen’s Park Stadium stand empty hundreds of days a year, and the proposal offers a great way to preserve the facility. “There is no reason for there to be winners and losers,” he said. “It can be a complete win-win for both sides.” As part of the proposal, the city would create an alternate field for baseball, either in Queen’s or Hume park. Vancouver Whitecaps FC have signed a memorandum of understanding to work toward launching a United Soccer Leagues franchise in New Westminster. They are
working to a Sept. 15 application deadline from the league, which would allow the club to launch its first season in March 2015 at Queen’s Park Stadium. Sapperton resident Barry Walker said it’s important for young players to have the opportunity to play. He said a USL pro franchise would give local kids something to aspire to. Joe Beck believes it would be an asset for the city. “It is a city that has grown,” he said. “I think the opportunity to bring this club here is another step in the right direction.” Many residents are concerned they’ve been unable to get enough information to properly assess the proposal and determine its merits and impacts on the city. No new information was presented Monday night.
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While very little financing information has been disclosed about the proposal, West End resident Elmer Rudolph said the alterations proposed to Queen’s Park Stadium would cost several million dollars and several million more dollars would be needed to build a new baseball park for teams currently playing ball on the stadium’s field. He said the city is asking taxpayers to finance this venture without providing information about how much it is going to cost, the financial risks or what the true impacts on Queen’s Park. “You are saying, ‘trust us,’” he said. “I am sorry, that is just not good enough. Among other things, I need to see are an architectural model of how the park will ◗Soccer Page 3
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