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PAGE 2, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1974, WHITBY FREE PRESS Quite often o11 the editorial page of this paper you wil have the occasion to read of tlings that are going wrong iîi the Town of Whitby or with!îî the town couincil. We point out these thiîîgs because wc feel they're wronig and we think our readers should know about them. There are many times' when we could utame individuals and we could legaliy and morally say more thaû we do, but we don't. Quite often exposing too much of the dirty mess would only give the town a bad name and that wouldn't accomplish anything. E d it or' -But wc like Whitby and we just happen lu think it's about the best community you coutd find to hive ini for quite a distance arounld. Whitby lias good people, picturesque streets and parks and it's the kind of place where you can walk down a quiet road at night without the fear of gctting mugged. Things arc bound tu change so aIl wc caîî do is hope the changes are for lte better. To aillthe newcomers.wc hope you'cnjoy living in Whitby because we sure do. BihI Newman Commen ts on Bih l2 75 Teachers have been in the news a great deal recently -and new legisiation corning up in the Spring session of1 the legisiature, wiIl probably inake sure that they are again. For sonie time the government has been concerned about ways and ueans of dealing fairly withi aspirations of our teachers, and at the samne time ensuring the continuity of our educational systemn. New legisiation designed to fulfili this end was introduced for the first reading ini the House rn Decenîber , as Bitl 275, and should flot be compared with Bill 274, which was brought ini for a very different purpose, to ensure that schools would remlain open in 17 specific areas where disputes between teachers and boards threaten- ed to close them. First 1 feel it is extremely important that you be made aware of the series of events which led to Bill 275 in order to understand the reasons for its existence. In 1970, Sec- ondary teachers in Toronto demnanded for the first timne the right to negotiate what they called "~condit ion of work for quality teaching." The Metro School Board refused such negotiations. 'on the grounds that this was the respon- sibility of -management". Subsequently tiiere were mass resignat ions, meetings at Maple Leaf Gardens, moratoriums on hiring by the Ontario School Trustees' Couintil, etc. - in short the miost diff icuit crisîs in the history of teaclîer-school board negotiations. While matters were subsequently resolved, the need for a reasonable format for negotiations to avoid such conflict in the future was obviouis. Th1e resuit was the appointrnlent of the Reville Committee of lnquiry ini late 1970. to establish anl effective nlegotiatio n procedure hetween tea- chers and scliool boards. After a vear and a haif the committee completed its stLldies and the report was releas- ed in September 1972. The report generated a great dea! of reaction. both for and against. So manl responses were received, that a special conmittec was appointed to con- sider and catalogue them. Between Septemiber 1972 and JanLIarv 1973, at least 7 lengthy meetings were held between the Minister of Edu- cation and representatives of the Ontario Teacher's Feder- ation, its affiliates and the Ontario Sclîool Trustees' Cou ncil, representing the boards. These meetings together with the recommendations of the Reville Report and subsequent studies forr-ned the basis for Bill 275. First reading was givenl on Deceinher 10, 1973 in order to allow Al interested parties an opportunity to examine its provisions before being debated in the Legisiature next session. A&sI1See It by Rev. R. H. James Whitby Free Methodilst Church Often we hear it said and are reminded that we live ini a changing age. Changes are inevitable, many for the good. While some surprise and shock us, others leave us puzzled. Near the end of 1973, a change in the wcdding ccremoîîy arose (at least this was the first 1 heard of it), when we are told the minister asks the bride is this a closed or open wedding. She replies closed or open. By closed it is as we have always known weddings tilI death us do part, love cherish, forsake ail others etc., whereas ai o pent wedding as 1 understand it, courtship with others may continue. The bride and groom have agreed that if at any time cither should wish to court another they rnay do so. This appears The Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation in their exaînination o'f the Bill conmpared it to their prcvious asscssment of the Reville Report. The Federation decided that Bill 275 met 9 out of 13 conditions which they feit vital to any future negotiations. Il went a long way towards fulfilling a tenth condition. The proposed legislation contains two main features whiclî both teachers and trustees consider paramount. The first feature, which l'm sure you have guessed alrcady, will be the teachers right to negotiate terms and conditions of work. The second and major poinît, wiIl be the establishment of an orderly five step negotiation process between teach- ers and boards. This process will include up to 41/2 months of free collective bargaining, and if settlements are not rcached, a period of mediation must follow. As a hast resort, binding arbitration will be employed to seutle any itemis st in dispute after almost six înonths of bargaining and mediauion. In addition to these features an Education Relations Commission is proposed. Thtis commission would appoint miediators and chairmen of arbitration boards where teach- crs and boards cannot agree on an appointiment. The bill also requires school boards to establish Teacher- Board Relations Committce. which would provide for reg8lar consultation between trustees and teachers 01n issues of inLtual concern. Its rote should enable teachiers and boards alike to head off problems 10 an earlv stage and before they become serious. When the Legislature begins ini thc new session Bill 275 wilt be referred to the Social 1)eveopment Commrittee, at wich timne any one who wishies to înake their views known will have a fiair opportunitv 1(1 do s<. Ini choosîng this procedure, the governnment is clearly showing thiat ît is prepared to listen to alternative suggestions and if thîey have mnenîttouamneîd the legislatioîî. Our (>111 desire is lu provide a logical framnework for tair negotiat ion - The public interest deînands no less. Because tItis legislation is cxtremclv important to both teachers and parenîts, 1 will kecp you inforîned as îuew developmnents occuir. ,.~- $AY THE WHITBY FREE PRESS (Voicc of the County Town) Hometown paper of Whitby, Brooklin, Myrtie and Ashburn; also serving Ajax and Pickering. S'trving total of approximately 25,OOO readers. Published every Wdtrsday bv Whitby Free Press Inc. Bruno Harilaid,* President'1 Located at : Free Press Building 121 Brock Street North, Vhitby MAIL: Box 206, Whitby PHONE: 668,6000 or 668-6111 TORONTO LINE: 282-1004 MAILING PERMIT NO. 2941 Editor/Gen. Manager - Mike Burgess Assistant Editor - Jim Quail Advertising Manager - draphic Arts - Marje Rutter THIS WEEK from Ottawa AGRICULTURAL MEETING Agriculture Miîster Eu- gene Whelan, addressing the federal-provincial Agriculture Outlook Conference in Otta- wa last week, said that in- corne prospects for Canadian farmers- have neyer looked better. Farm incomes reachcd a record level of $2.96 billion in 1973 and will climb even higher this year, to an esti- mated $4.55 billion. The minister also urged Canada and otîler nations to increase their food produc- tion. Before his meetin'g with Canada's agricultural experts, Mr. Whelan said in an inter- view that the federal govern- ment will propose a form of guaranteed annual income for farmers this year. Farnîers and govcrrnmcint would con- tribute 10 a special "stability insurance" fund, from which farmers would draw money if their incomes dropped. TRADE WITH MEXICO lndustry. Trade and Comi- merce Minister Alastair Gillespie accornpanied by go- vernment officiaIs and top Canadian businessmen, was in Mexico for three days of trade talks. The minister prcdicted that Canada will do a $1 billion worth of business with Mexico in the next few years.1 NEW BAN KRUPTCY RU LES Consumer and Corporate Affairs Minister Herb Grayi said in a recent report that he hopes 10 introduce in Par- liament this year, new propo- sais tb revise the Bankruptcy Act. FINANCE MINISTERS MEET Federaî Finance Minister John Turner predicted a healthy econorny in 1974 but the energy situation made firm projections impossible. At a meeting of federal- provincial finance ministers, Mr. Turner rejected provin- cial requests for compensa- tion for losses incurred from indexing. A committee will be set up to watch investrments in energy developments, 10 en- sure there are no great de- mands on the economy. IMMIGRATION POLICY Canada's immigration poli- cy for the future is presently under stud(v. A federal green paper. the first stepý toward a comiplete re-evaluation oi this countrvý's immigration requirements and strategy' will be released late in the spring. After publication of the green paper, the Department of Manpower and Immigra- tion will sponsor a "National Conference on Immigration and Popuflation". EXPORTS UP 25.4% Canada's exports rose to $25.1I7 billion in 1973 from $20.27 billion in 1972 - an increase of 25.4%. SALE ALL COTTON DRESSES Minis reg. $9-95 NOW $7 * 9- Maxis reg, $19-95 NOW $14095 Leather reg. $14-95NW$O' purses NW-M9 Hookças reg, $49-95 NOW $29*95 and rnany other goodies Visit or Cal! -SOAMI BOUTIQUE 35 SIMCOE STREET NORTH, OSHAWA 57'6-5242 rîesNtPfect-- Because of a massive new subdivision and a nuîîîber of othier new housing dcveloprnents wc now have quite a few new taxîlayers in Whitby and conscqucntly a lot more readers. So iîn case you have read a few caustic editoriats about how things are going in Whitby we'd likçe lu set the record straight. We Write about Whitby and lte council because wc care and we hope to find solutions. If wc didn't care wc simply wouldn't bother to write editoriats. BUT wc do care and