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a RR -- i "WEEKEND STAR" FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER, 2000-3 GM suspends 13 line workers over wildcat strike By Chris Hall Port Perry Star General Motors of Canada has suspend- ed 13 production line employees for up to two months without pay for their roles in a wildcat strike at two Oshawa assembly plants earlier this month. GM officials confirmed on Wednesday that 13 employees had been given penal- ties ranging from two weeks to 60 days for the part they played in an illegal walkout on Aug. 14. . Production stopped at the No. 2 assem- bly plant that manufactures Buick Century and Regal models early that moming when a number of workers protested the suspen- sion of union committee member Doug Sanders. He was penalized after a shouting match with a manager who was working on the assembly line. The protest continually grew, prohibiting employees from getting to their jobs at the No. 2 plant, and eventually stopping work at the Chev Impala/Monte Carlo plant as well. GM officials finally sent all employees home around 6:30 p.m. that evening. Three shifts were lost at the No. 2 plant, while operations were shut down at the No. I plant for two shifts. The GM truck plant was not affected by the illegal walkout. General Motors claims to have lost more than $50 million as a result of the work stop- page. For their part in the wildcat strike, six employees were suspended for 60 days, five will be off the job for one month, and another two workers will be away for 14 days. The suspensions were announced on Tuesday (Aug. 29), and became effective as of that date. None of the employees will be paid dur- ing that time. All workers except those who played a role in the walkout will receive full pay for their shifts that day. Officials with the Canadian Auto Workers (CAW) union have filed a griev- ance with GM on behalf of their suspended colleagues. CAW members were discussing the matter on Wednesday moming. "It's a bad situation, that's for sure," said CAW Local 222 financial secretary Terry Spence, noting that there were fears that some of the suspended employees would be fired for their actions. He refused to comment further on the matter. Family and friends will be gathering at a local tav-' ern next month in an effort to raise funds for a Port Perry woman stricken with cancer. As part of their initiative, more than 12 folks so far Jave agreed to have their heads shaved to help raise funds for Julie, a former employee at No Frills Haircutters in Port Perry and a mother of two. She was recently diag- nosed with lymphoma can- cer and will soon began : chemotherapy treatment after more tests have been completed. The effort will see friends and family mem- Follicles fall for good cause bers collect pledges in sup- port of Julie. They will then take turns shaving each other's heads, beginning at noon on Sept. 10 at Trader Sam's pub. "It's going to be a bunch of friends shaving each other to raise money for Julie," said Lisa Hudson, who will lose her locks for her close friend. "Anything's going to help her out." Anyone wishing to spon- sor someone or participate in the event themselves is asked to contact Lisa at 985- 1858 or 985-2099. Pledge forms can also be picked up at No Frills Haircutters. Board officials to seek answers on special ed funds From page 1 requesting the clarifica- tion," Ms Freedman said. She said that any new students coming to Durham Region with special education needs will now leave the board "very, very, tight... very tight indeed." After announcements by the education min- istry that all of the $43 million set aside for spe- cial education would be spent, Durham District School Board Director of Education Grant Yeo said he will want to see how other boards quali- fied where his board did not. "We will request clari- fication, and be bringing that to the board next meeting," Mr. Yeo said. "We will want to look at how boards in similar sit- uations to us fared in funding allocations as well." Mr. Yeo said that because of the funding plan put into effect by the board this year, no programs now in place will be cut back but, "we 'need to determine what actual money we have, and what we will get... if they (the ministry) can tell us that. They have not told us to this point." Mr. Yeo said that he felt the extra time and effort put into the evalu- ation process would have had a more posi- tive result. "Frankly, if we get the same amount of money we will be quite disap- pointed. We thought that we warranted more." The Durham Board has funded special edu- cation by diverting money from other areas for several years in an effort to hold the high standards the board has become known for across the province. BRCTES > Vr av 29%0FF i selected styles Boys & Girls 2-16 sale ends Tues., Sept. 5/00 BR@(C "KS [68 - 178 Queen Street, Port Pern 905-985-2521 HIECIS SIRT]