14 The Dallas Post Dallas, PA Wednesday, November 4, 1992 C-Tec (continued from page 1) the latest action is a follow-up to that reorganization,” Thorpe said. Contract negotiations between the union and Commonwealth have broken off and the company's cancellation of the union contract is. causing frustration among employees. “The employees are disgusted because of the contract situation,” union shop steward Frank Snyder said. Snyder said that the company ended arbitration when the contract was not extended in December of 1991. “As of October 24, Commonwealth Telephone cancelled the contract with the union,” Short said. Short, who hasbeen assigned to work with the union at Commonwealth Telephone, said that either side has the right to cancel the contract with 48 hours notice. The situation has led to a freeze on wages and benefits for 341 union employees at Commonwealth Telephone, according to acting union Vice President Ruth Navagowski. Snyder said that the National Labor Relations Board dictates that the company cannot cut employee benefits. “The situation is upsetting because I and the other employees have been working for 11 months without a contract,” Navagowski said. “We do quality work and it’s time to get a contract and get on with our work,” Navagowski said. Snyder said that the contract which was recently offered is the same one the company offered the union over 8 months ago. He called that this type of position unreasonable. “The company keeps throwing the same proposed contract to us, which is outrageous,” Snyder said. Commonwealth's public relations director Thorpe said that the company has offered the union a 6 1/2% wage increase over three years while asking employees to contribute more for health insurance. “The company wants employees to increase health contributions from eight percent to 17% in the first year of the contract,” Thorpe said. Employees would then contribute 20% in the second year and 25% in the third year of the contract, Thorpe said. Short said that retiree funded benefits would also be affected by the new contract. He and Navagowski agree that the rise in health care costs could affect the paychecks of employees. “A substandard wage increase, combined with a rise in health care . deductions could mean that an employee would take home less than what he is making now,” Navagowski said. The union represents craft people at Commonwealth Telephone. They include installers, switchmen, and stockroom workers as well as garage mechanics, and business system employees, Snyder said that the company’s telephone division is the only group which is affected by the contract, which he believes is unfair. “The other four divisions of the company are losing money while the telephone division is making money and we are being hurt,” Snyder said. : Commonwealth Telephone is a division of C-TEC Corporation, which consists of telephone, long distance, cellular and paging companies. The group also owns cable television systems in Michigan, New Jersey and New York. Thorpe said the company also owns Commonwealth Communications Inc., a consulting and engineering firm. Navagowski said the telephone division is the only group that is unionized. “Commonwealth Telephone employees are among the lowest paid of all telephone corporations,” Short said. Short said the union voted to strike on October 21 although no date has been set. Navagowski said that a strike can only be called by the union president in Washington. In the event of a strike, the company has a contingency plan to deal with the situation, something which Thorpe said will not affect customer service. “The customer needs to be aware that there will be no let down in service should there be a strike,” Thorpe said. Short said that the union hopes to solicit other unions in the area for support if there is a strike. “We have contacted all of the unions to ask for support. We will issue cards to union members and businesses authorizing us to switch their long distance from Commonwealth to AT&T should there be a strike,” Short said. Ham dinner in Sweet Valley Turchin fundraisers scheduled Friends of Eddie Turchin and his family have organized a series of events to raise money to help the family offset travel and other expenses incurred while Eddie is a patient at the University of Pennsylvania Hospital in Philadelphia. * Wednesday, November 4: Lake-Lehman High School Football Club will hold a spaghetti supper between 5 and 8 p.m. at the high school. e Friday-Saturday, November 6-7: Charlie Brown's Restaurant on River Road, Plains Township, will donate $1 for every patron to the Eddie Turchin Fund. e Saturday, November 7: The Lake-Lehman soccer team, featuring All-American Brian Kelly, will hold a soccer clinic at the high school from 9 a.m.-noon. Bring your own ball. Soccer jerseys will be raffled. A $5 per person donation is payable at the door; all proceeds will go to the Eddie Turchin fund. e Wednesday, November 18: Sans Souci Lounge in Hanover Township will host several local bands between 2 and 8 p.m. The $5 per person admission charge will be donated directly to the Eddie Turchin fund. e Saturday, November 21: Gate of Heaven School's Youth Group will hold a candy sale in the Back Mountain. e Sunday, November 22: Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, where the Turchin family worships, will host a meatloaf dinner. e Friday, January 8: “Red” Jones will call a square dance from 8:30 p.m. until midnight at College Misericordia. Individual donations may be sent to: Eddie Turchin Fund, First Eastern Bank, 325 Memorial Highway, Dallas PA 18612. Turchin (continued from page 1) with this operation but was optimistic that he'd make it through. Please pray for him.” “I would also like to thank the many kind people who have sent Eddie cards at the hospital,” she continued. “We read him every card and show them to him when he account to accept donations. Teachers and staff in the Lake- Lehman School District, where Bonnie Turchin teaches, have raised $2,600, while student organizations and friends have sold candy bars and manned collection canisters at school athletic events. can open his eyes, although we don't really know if he can see them” While Eddie is hospitalized, Bonnie and Ed Turchin, Sr., and their daughter, Pam, face many travel and lodging expenses, estimated by a family friend at more than $700 a week. Friends from the Back Mountain have organized several fund-raising As of Friday, October 30, $5,541.35 had been raised, according to Joseph “Red” Jones. Anyone wishing to sell candy bars or help out at fund-raisers may call Joseph “Red” Jones at 639-2186. Donations may be sent to: Eddie Turchin Fund, First Eastern Bank, 325 Memorial Highway, Dallas PA projects and have set up a bank 18612. Girl Scout uniforms wanted Do you have a Girl Scout uniform stuck away somewhere gathering dust? Well, we have lots of girls, from Daisies and Brownies right through Juniors, Cadettes and Seniors, who would gladly give those uniforms a loving home. If you have a uniform you would like to recycle, contact the Council office at 829-2631 or Jamie at 696-3595. Land (continued from page 1) When he died, the land was sold and the Scouts lost their use of it. To prevent this from happening, groups such as the Pennsylvania Land Trust Association and the Wildlands Conservancy have been organized to help preserve sites with historic, aesthetic or ecological importance by establishing land trusts and conservation easements. The Back Mountain Citizens’ Council has scheduled a meeting Thursday, November 5, at 7 p.m. at the Fortinsky Auditorium of the Center for Technology at the Penn State-Lehman campus, where guest speaker Thomas Kerr, executive director of the Wildlands Conservancy and chairman of the Pennsylvania Land Trust Association, will discuss these topics. According to information supplied by Conyngham, a conservation easement is a permanent legal agreement made between a property owner and a nonprofit conservation organization (land trust) torestrict future development on his property. The landowner has final say on how much land can be developed and what types of development are allowed. An easements is extremely flexible; the landowner decides its structure. Conservation easements are permanent, although the owner still owns the DUNMORE 346-5725 Tux. (SR do (tuk s&’do), n., 1. Formal clothing for men, reserved for the most special occasions. Our Definition. 2. Perfect Fit. 3. Latest Style. 4. Guaranteed Satisfaction. Define Your Look at Your TUXEDO SOURCE WILKES-BARRE 823-6777 Bring in this ad for a FREE wedding gift No purchase necessary land, which can be leased, sold, given away or willed to others. The easement simply prevents development. For example, a property owner may establish a conservation easement on 25 acres of his land | for a bird sanctuary with limited public access. “The landowner who allowed the Scouts to use his land for so many years could have set up a conservation easement, allowing them to use the land permanently, no matter who bought the property after his death,” Conyngham said. The role of the Wildlands Conservancy would be to survey and document the condition of the land, monitor it for any changes and enforce any violations. Conservation easements have several tax advantages for the property owner. Since the land isn’t developed and its value is much lower, the property and estate taxes are also lower. The Internal Revenue Service considers the reduction in the land's value to be a charitable contribution, si 3 to a check to one’s favorite chai®, qualifying as a large income tax deduction. “The most powerful way to preserve your family’s land while you're alive and after you die is to restrict its use, by owning the easement rights,” Conyngham said. EXETER 693-2675 The Sweet Valley Volunteer Fire Company will be hosting a Family Style Ham Dinner at the firehall on Saturday, Nov. 14, from 5 to 7 p.m. Cost will be $6.50 for adults, $3.25 for children ages 6-12. Takeouts will be available between 4:30 and 5 p.m. Tickets are available from any fireman or at the door. OFFICE/RETAIL FOR RENT In modern, well-maintained building at intersection of routes 309 and 415 in Dallas. Gas heat and air conditioning, parking. Great visibility. May be available as early as mid-December. Call 696-3469 or Imodium®A-D Anti-Diarrheal 4 Fluid Oz. $8.85 12 Caplets $6.63 | c&=, FINO'S PHARMACY 3 Main Street, Dallas, PA - 675-1141 Emergency Phone: 675-4707 di AD 5a Tm 1S For the Control of the Symptoms of Dorrhea : ‘Steven's Li | We ih Town & Country Country Club Shopping Ctr. * 675-0468 Keep great looks lookin’ great! Our drycleaning quality comes through every time. You'll see it in the appearance of your clothes: whites are whiter... brights are brighter...and fabrics are restored to a like new softness. You invest in quality clothing; invest in quality for their care. Check Out Our New Mon. - Fri. 7 AM. - 7 P.M. Sat. 8 AM. - 4 P.M. The Professional Edge, The Personal Touch A member of the International Fabricare Institute, the association of professional drycleaners and launderers. v Cleaners EEA Store Hours Your Special Gift With A First Eastern Holiday Club Account. Gift Cost Coupon Automatic Book Transfer Club Amount Interest Rate $2,000 ($40/week) 3% 1,500 ($30/week) 3% ( 4 plates FREE ( 1,000 ($20/week) 3% ( ( 4 plates FREE 4 plates FREE 2 plates FREE 2 plates $3 4 plates FREE 4 plates FREE 4 plates FREE 2 plates FREE 2 plates FREE $10/week) 0 $5/week) 0 Interest is earned from day of deposit to day of withdrawal and will be credited to clubs that reach a balance of $1,000 or more. There will be a $5 service charge on any club closed before the last payment is due. EE FIRST BE BANK.... HOLIDAY CLUBS One gift per club ® Offer and quantities limited ® Plate size: 7 '/>" ¢ © 1992 First Eastern Bank, N.A.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers