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Lede Copy by Shirley Blevings
VANCOUVER—The words, "Let's bargain Mr. Bexley," shouted from the large banner strung up across the street from the Delta Optimist, a weekly newspaper based in Ladner, B.C. Employees of the paper, members of The Vancouver-New Westminster Newspaper Guild, were highlighting their legal right to negotiate a collective agreement with Optimist publisher Ernie Bexley. The 27 employees became certified members of Local 115 of The Guild Oct. 10 but four months later had yet to coax Bexley to the bargaining table. A government mediator had also failed to persuade the publisher to negotiate. "We've never had this much trouble with an employer before," stated Patricia Lane, administrative officer for The Guild. To put pressure upon Bexley, Optimist employees conducted a leaflet campaign Feb. 11, informing the public of what was happening. "It's important that the public know what's going on in their community," said Lane. "Bexley has an obligation under the Labour Code of B.C. to bargain in good faith and so far he has refused." The Guild asked members of the public who felt that Bexley should negotiate to write letters to the Optimist. Bexley declined to comment on the demonstration. Lane said this was the first time in the history of The Vancouver-New Westminster Newspaper Guild that such measures had been used in an attempt to bring an employer to the bargaining table. The measures obviously met with success: the two sides are now bargaining with the assistance of a mediator from the Mediation Services Branch of the Ministry of Labour. Unfair labour practice charges brought earlier by The Guild against Bexley are still before the B.C. Labour Relations Board. The charges allege improper dismissal of an employee and failure to bargain in good faith.
Published in SOURCES May-June 1980
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