Up front: Duncan now officially an OK place to play chicken page A3 Cowichan family: Parents coping with the pressures of Christmas page B6 For all the news of the Cowichan region as it happens, plus stories from around British Columbia, go to our website www.cowichannewsleader.com Your news leader since 1905
Look for the
Clip & Click Coupon Book in today’s
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
CUPE walkout cancels two days of class at VIU campus
Two arrested after cocaine sold to cop Peter W. Rusland
News Leader Pictorial
S
Support staff job action: Students hoping they aren’t in for a repeat of month-long 2011 teachers’ strike Peter W. Rusland
News Leader Pictorial
V
IU student Sydney Rabey had déjà vu yesterday as her classes at Cowichan’s campus were scrubbed amid unionized support-worker strike action. “I went to VIU when they had the last strike (by faculty in 2011) and we were out for a month,” she said, working on an English literature paper due yesterday as students and administration were entering campus buildings. Rabey hoped her classes at Cowichan and Nanaimo campuses aren’t cancelled for another month. “I hope they can ¿gure something out soon so we can get back to class,” said Rabey. “We’ve got two weeks left until exams.” Members of CUPE Local 1858 set up pickets at the campus Tuesday at 7 a.m., joining workers at three other VIU campuses and a handful of other B.C. colleges in a planned two-day walkout. “This is a one-day, possibly a two-day disruption,” VIU registrar Fred Jacklin said Tuesday. “We’re working with CUPE and all parties to minimize disruptions.” Jacklin said it hadn’t been discussed if students will get two days of instruction added because of the strike. And he declined to comment about bargaining, or about VIU brass caught in the contract cross¿re between the Canadian Union of Public Employees and B.C. ¿nance ministry’s Public Sector Employers’ Council. “That’s the disconnect. They’re still the monkey in the middle,” CUPE Local 1858 head Deborah Hopper said of VIU managers talking with CUPE about the union’s proposed four-year 0-0-2-2% proposal. “The problem is colleges can bargain with the union, but can’t sign deals with them — that’s province’s responsibility under PSEC.
Peter W. Rusland
VIU Cowichan’s continuing-education staffer Kim Lesiuk (left) and welcome-centre worker Trudy Bagnall were among some 20 Local 1858 support employees on strike Tuesday. “It’s in limbo. All colleges have put proposals in, but the province (PSEC) won’t come to the table, or discuss anything with us.” PSEC’s lines were busy Tuesday. Local 1858 represents nearly 30 Cowichan campus workers among 300 island employees, including food services workers, clerical staff, facilities workers and library staff at VIU’s four campuses. CUPE members at VIU’s campuses have been without a contact since 2010 and voted 86% in favour of a strike mandate recently. The union’s B.C. colleges coordinator, Ian McLean, regretted mediated talks failed.
0.99% DL#5963
Civic Si VSA-NAVI FB635CKV
“We have met and worked with those employers over the past two years, and proposed settlements in line with all the other recent public-sector contracts. “To date all of these efforts have failed because we are told by our employers that they don’t have a mandate to bargain from the government.” Other recent public-sector wage settlements have been for four-year, no-concessions deals with 0-0-22% wage increases. “All we’re asking is to continue free collective bargaining,” said Hopper. “It’s incredibly inappropriate to put students in the middle.” more on A11
hawnigan Lake RCMP have arrested two Cowichan men following a recent undercover drug operation in the South Cowichan area. Derek Timothy Rocco, 27, of Cobble Hill, and Troy Edward Munn, 23, of Duncan face cocainetraf¿cking charges following the undercover action, the Mounties say. The pair has since been released from custody on Evidence seized by Mounties conditions, during a recent drug sting. and were to appear next in Duncan Provincial Court on Nov. 20. Their arrests occurred in early November as a result of Munn and Rocco allegedly selling cocaine to an undercover police of¿cer, Sgt. Robb Webb says in a release. “Numerous ‘spit balls’ of cocaine and a small quantity of cash were seized during this operation. “Two other males from the South Cowichan area are also under investigation, and warrants are being sought for their arrest,” he says. Their identities will be released once charges are laid. Shawnigan RCMP are pleased with the results of the project, states Webb. “Investigations like this are complex and require signi¿cant resources from our local detachment, and other specialized RCMP units from across Vancouver Island. “The Shawnigan Lake RCMP will continue to focus on illegal drug activities within our community,” says Webb, saluting the RCMP Island District General Investigation Section that assisted in the bust.
lease or finance for up to 36 months
CIVIC
Starting from $16,485 MSRP** includes freight and PDI
CR-V Touring RM4H9CKN(S)
CR-V
Plus, receive
Starting from $27,630 MSRP** includes freight and PDI
$1,000 HONDA DOLLARS
with every new 2012 Civic and CR-V
#Finance example based on a new 2012 Civic 4D LX 5MT model FB2E4CEX and a 36 month finance term available only through Honda Canada Finance Inc. O.A.C.: $19,235 at 0.99% per annum equals $471.48 per month for 36 months. Freight and PDI of $1,495 included. Cost of borrowing is $256.58, for a total obligation of $16,973.28. Down payment of $5,000, first monthly payment, environmental fees and $0 security deposit due at finance inception. Offer includes freight & PDI. Taxes are extra. Finance on approved credit for qualified customers only. For all offers license, insurance, applicable taxes and registration are extra. Dealer may sell for less. Dealer trade may be required. Lease example based on a new 2012 Civic 4D LX 5MT model FB2E4CEX and a 36 month lease term available only through Honda Canada Finance Inc. O.A.C.: 0.99% lease APR for 36 months O.A.C. Monthly payment, including freight and PDI, is $189.00. Down payment of $3,526.07, first monthly payment, environmental fees and $0 security deposit due at lease inception. Total lease obligation is $10,330.07. Taxes, license, insurance and registration are extra. 72,000 kilometre allowance; charge of $0.12/km for excess kilometres. Dealer may sell for less. Dealer trade may be required. ¥ $1,000 Honda Dollars is available on all new 2012 Civic and CR-V models. Honda Dollars will be deducted from the negotiated price before taxes and cannot be combined with special lease or finance offers. MSRP is $27,630 / $16,485 including freight and PDI of $1,640 / $1,495 based on a new 2012 CR-V LX 2WD model RM3H3CE(S) / 2012 Civic DX 5MT 4WD model FB2E2CEX. PPSA, license, insurance, taxes, and other dealer charges are extra and may be required at the time of purchase. Dealer may sell for less. Dealer trade may be necessary on certain vehicles. /¥/#/** Offers valid from November 1st through 30th, 2012 at participating Honda retailers. Offers valid only for British Columbia residents at BC Honda Dealers locations. Offers subject to change or cancellation without notice. Terms and conditions apply. Visit www.bchonda.com or see your Honda retailer for full details.
Discovery Honda
6466 Bell McKinnon Road, Duncan
Toll Free 866-413-8597
www.discoveryhonda.com