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Wednesday, March 15, 2023
Vol. 14, Issue 07
SCHIEFER Highbury Canco DR. STEVE
workers back on job after 23 days
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MARCH SNOW BRINGS OUT TOBOGGANS
A fresh blanket of snow on Friday, March 10 produced some winter fun for many of the youngsters enjoying their snow day in the Sun Parlour. Seacliff Hill in Leamington, Healey Hill at Two Creeks in Wheatley and Kingsville’s Lakeside Park were all busy with snow lovers hoping to take advantage of what could be winter’s last blast. This group of five enjoyed countless rides down Seacliff Hill late Friday morning. From front to back are Sophia Driedger, Karis Driedger, Maisie Washburn (in pink), Abigail Washburn and Zoey Driedger. SUN photo by Deanna Bertrand
Dunn raises question
Town exploring speed cameras in problem areas SOUTHPOINTCREATIVEGROUP.CA
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By Mark Ribble After 23 days, the 400 unionized employees at Highbury Canco went back to work last week as the UFCW and Highbury were able to come to an agreement on Tuesday, March 7. The deal was reached after the two sides came together and agreed to put the new offer to a vote, which the UFCW Local 175 workers voted 52.8 per cent in favour of accepting. The deal allows for a 28 per cent increase in wages over the four-year collective agreement, which is front loaded with the majority of the raise occurring in the first year. According to UFCW Local 175 Union Steward Scott Jackson, it was time to get the employees back to work. “We were happy to get everybody back on the job,” he said. Jackson said that the new contract has a $2.00 per hour raise in SCOTT JACKSON the first year, adding 15 cents in year two, 20 cents in year three and 35 cents in year four. The $17.60 starting base union rate is now $19.60 per hour, according to Jackson and he says they are happy with that. “That puts us in the ballpark with other companies in the field,” he said. “They’ve also added a 40-cent shift premium for afternoons and 75 cents for midnights.” Jackson said new improved language surrounding job descriptions and double time, four weeks paid vacation after 12 years and a .25 per cent increase in pensions across the board are also included in the new contract. The strike began on February 13 when the two sides broke off talks and the union voted 99 per cent in favour of striking.
Leamington Council has requested a report from administration on the possible future use of automated speed enforcement cameras in some of Leamington’s more traveled roadways. Councillor Bill Dunn brought forth a motion asking for the consideration of the speed cameras along known problem areas such as Robson Road, Forest Avenue and Deer Run Road. “We’ve all had many complaints about speeding in our community,” said Dunn. “What really hit me was when I was
BILL DUNN
standing on someone’s front lawn near the soccer fields and saw a truck travelling 80-100 mph in a populated area.” Dunn said that he felt that installing cameras
would be more economical than traffic calming construction measures along those roads or hiring an additional OPP officer to specifically target the speeding issue. Dunn felt that the OPP have more important things to do with their time than to sit and wait for speeders along certain roads on a full-time basis. Rob Sharon, Director of Infrastructure Services at the Municipality of Leamington, said that the issue is currently being discussed by administration and a report will be forthcoming.
He said that he wanted to speak to the issue to manage council’s expectations of what the report might contain, explaining that there are many things to take into consideration when exploring the idea of automated speed enforcement cameras. “The concept of speed cameras sounds pretty simple and straight forward,” said Sharon. “Regulation is very tight, cameras are very expensive. You require a certain processing of these tickets that right now only the city of Toronto is capable of doing that processing.”
Sharon explained that everyone in Ontario who has the cameras is using Toronto to process their tickets and that is creating a backlog. Due process also comes into the equation, as the regulatory environment in Ontario is different than other provinces. “We have to take a look at the cost versus the expected revenue from tickets issued,” said Sharon. The motion by Councillor Dunn to have a report created was passed and Sharon promised a full report in the coming weeks.