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Wednesdsay January 12, 2000 THE OAKVILLE BEAVER A9 Both sides ready to talk in Community Living strike By Howard Mozel OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF N a il Q u e e n B e a u tif u l N ails Since 19 85 Both sides in the protracted Community Living Oakville (CLO) strike are finally back at the bargaining table. At press time Tuesday, management and representatives of Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) Local 249 were scheduled to re-start talks this moming. "It's about time," said union rep Esther Maclean. CLO executive director Andy Rotsma called provincial mediator Dania Firth and asked that she summon the union back to the table. The union says they were ready and willing to talk all along. Rotsma's move marks a seeming about-face for manage ment, which last month was adamant its final offer was final. In another development, parents of CLO clients have orga nized a meeting for Thursday evening at which time manage ment and union representatives are scheduled to speak. Maclean thinks it is this action which prompted Rotsma to change his tune. "I believe the parents' meeting pushed his buttons," said Maclean, who went on to say that "all issues" are on the table. "We're always optimistic." In late December, six weeks into the strike, Rotsma made it clear that management would not return to bargaining with any counter-offer. Two percent over two years was final, he said. The union was asking for 3% over two years. Rotsma said Tuesday that the timing of his call to the medi ator and the parents' meeting is purely coincidental. Rotsma said he was on the phone trying to re-start talks prior to hearing about the parents' actions. If anything changed his thinking, Rotsma continued, it was comments from parents - some of whom are seniors - who have been forced to care for their children during the strike. About 20% to 25% of CLO's 400-plus clients are now living with family members. Rotsma wants to make it very clear, though, that his actions have nothing to do with suddenly finding extra cash to pay for the additional 1% that separated each side. "Every strike gets to the point where someone has to decide to end it," said Rotsma. Local 249, which represents about 125 workers who care for those with developmental disabilities, have been in dispute over wages, job security, contracting out and what they see as an attempted erosion of their sick leave plan. ffo o ff* all services J a n u a ry 18th to Jan u ary 22n d LIST OF SERVICES: Laurie · A c ry lic N a ils · F ib e rg lass N a ils · F a cia ls · P ed icu res · M an ic u res · E a r C an d lin g « . jp * S pecial d o es n o t in clu d e T ip to T oes Shannon Melissa HOURS: Tues.-Fri. 9:30 am - 8:00 pm . Sat. 9:30 am - 6:00 pm T r a fa lg a r V illa g e (905> 8 4 4 -1 6 0 0 Axworthy promises human rights leadership By Claudia D1 Souza SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER Lloyd Axworthy, Minister of Foreign Affairs, is committed to taking leader ship role in ending the human rights cat astrophe in Afghanistan says Bev LeFrancois, co-executive director of the Halton Rape Crisis Centre. LeFrancois, Sally Armstrong and other representatives of the Oakvillebased coalition, Canadians in Support of Afghan Women, received that promise from Axworthy when they met with him last month in Ottawa. During the 45-minute meeting, Axworthy received nearly 3,000 signa tures on petitions gathered from across Canada including Oakville, that express outrage at the Taliban armed militia's oppressive and misogynist reign against Afghan women since 1996. The petition calls for the United Nations to deny the Taliban regime access to a UN seat and to do everything possible to restore women's rights to work, health care, edu cation and safety in Afghanistan. "It was a huge success," says LeFrancois. "Minister Axworthy is very supportive and knows something must be done. We'll be working closely with his staff to formulate some strategies in January." Axworthy's upcoming appointment as President of the United Nations Security Council in April, will be crucial to the Afghanistan cause, she adds. "These women have asked us to help them," LeFrancois notes. "That's why we took this up. How can we not respond? Knowing Axworthy is sympa thetic to the issue means a lot, but all Canadians need to be involved in this." Other members of the coalition include Mary Lou McPhedran, a lawyer representing the Legal Education Action Foundation (LEAF), Body Shop CEO and owner, Mary Franssen, Ellen Campbell, of the Canadian Unitarian Council, and Peace Activist, Deb Ellis. "Violence against women has been the Body Shop's signature campaign for seven years running," notes Franssen. "It's our duty to pay attention to these issues. They need our voice. Axworthy gave us more than 40 minutes of his time and that shows he's committed. He was delighted we were so informed and this gives him the impetus to carry on. We need to get the political power to reach out to the United Nations and that's what we'll be working toward together. The next step is to organize a conference plus the Minister said he'd help us organize another meeting in Ottawa." In Canada, more than a dozen organi zations are in solidarity with the call for action including Halton Women's Place, the Halton Violence Prevention Council and the Women's Information and Support Centre. Since the takeover o f 90% of Afghanistan by the right wing, funda mentalist Taliban militia, 10 million Afghan women are barred from working or going to school and are forced to live in seclusion. When they venture out doors, they must wear a head to toe wrap called a burqa and silent shoes so they can't be heard. They can't leave home without a close male relative and a per mit that gives them reason to be outside. A barrage of human rights atrocities ter rorize, injure, maim, murder and demor alize its female population on a daily basis for the tiniest infractions. Forced from their jobs and imprisoned in their homes with limited access to health care, the largely educated and professionally employed female population is increas ingly sick, poverty-stricken and depressed. LeFrancois urges concerned citizens to write letters of support and encour agement to Axworthy. They can be addressed to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Room 418 N Centre Block, House of Commons, K1A0A6. The public is welcome to attend a Jan. 13th meeting of Canadians in Support of Afghan Women at 3 p.m. at the Halton Rape Crisis Centre at Hopedale Mall (1515 Rebecca Street, Ste. 207). Donations are welcome to help feed Afghan women and children who have fled to refugee camps on Pakistan. For this puipose, a small mesh lapel pin, a symbol of support, is available at the Centre for a $2 donation. Call 825-3622 for more information. Get the Results You Want, at a Price You Can Afford! Join Now and Pay Only $39 Per Month with Down Payment A beautiful body doesn't take years of hard work and determination. It takes the right program! A program that incorporates strength, exercise, cardovascular exercise and proper nutrition. And the secret is ... it doesn't have to take lH | forever. 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Bill studied marketing at York University and graduated with his H.B.A. from Western, C a rlo s M a rtin e z 4-5 year olds welcome ; Ian Oliver, publisher of T he Oakville Beaver is pleased to welcome Sue Spizziri to the Advertising Department. Sue has extensive experi ence in advertising sales and marketing and most recently was the market ing Director with Dixie Outlet Mall. Sue also taught with Si School o f Business. lan Oliver, publisher of The Oakville Beaver is · O u r N ew est Centre · O pen 7:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. · Qualified E C E staff · 8 spaces now available 11 Martinez to the Advertising Departraem, Carlos is a graduateofSt. Lawrence · 1/8 teacher/child ratio · . ,.:y v : v .\ < < .V . and a graduate of die University of Buffalos Public Relations Program. He holds a B A in Communications 4 from Universida Autonoma de Nuevo Leon'in Mexico anc E n ro ll to d a y ! C a ll 849-5765 ATTENTION - PARENTS OF GRADE 8 STUDENTS You are invited to attend a PARENT INFORMATION EVENING Parents of students who are planning to attend Oakville high schools in September 2000 are welcome to come and hear more about the Grade 9 program, services for students, and diploma requirements. Parents should attend the Parents' Information Night at their home school (the school for their designated community). For more information, please contact the school office. Iroquois Ridae High School (845-0012) Thursday, January 20th at 6:30 p.m. Oakville Trafalgar High School (845-2875) Thursday, January 20th at 7:00 p.m. T.A. Blakelock High School (827-1158) Tuesday, January 25th at 7:00 p.m. White Oaks Secondary School (845-5200) Thursday, January 20th at 7:00 p.m. FERN H ILL SCH O O L EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION SINCE 1982 W e are now accepting applications from Preschool through Grade 8 for the September, 2000 school year. O u r philosophy embraces the development o f all aspects o f growth for children. W e provide a stimulating, challenging academic program m e balanced w ith strong creative arts and sports. · Small class sizes · Highly trained, dedicated subject specific teachers in all curricular areas · Leadership opportunities for senior students · Sports, Arts, M usic and Drama · Light-filled, m od em , folly equipped classrooms · H o t Lunch Programme · Oakville C am pus - 1 0 acres w ith tennis courts, running track and soccer field · Burlington C am pus - 2 2 acres o f property including soccer field Queen Elizabeth Park School (827-4101) Thursday, January 20th at 6:45 p.m. O u r next elem entary admissions test date for Oakville is on Saturday, January 22nd, 2000. Testing in B urlington will be held on Saturday, January 15th, 2000. To register your child for testing, please call Laura Bearpish, Director of Admissions. B urlington C am pus 801 N orth Service Rd. B urlington, O ntario L7P5B 6 9 0 5-634-8652 H H alton D is t r ic t Schoo l B oard Ethel Gardiner, Chair O akville C am pus 3300 N inth L ine Rd O akville, O ntario L 6J 4Z 2 905-257-0022 D.L. Papke, Ed. D., Director o f Education