Strike Possibility Looming in Waterton Jinne 1 to September 4 - P.Fk)Aiin.I^T0:0Op!M
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Winner of the Heritage Tourism Awareness Award 2001 serving the Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park Printed in Canada VOL 3 NO. l Tuesday, May 14,2002 FREE INSIDE New super Glacier National Park has a neW'Sapeitotenitwit BORDER CROSSING HOURS: Chief Mountaitt May 15 to May 31 ^^a.rS:to-6:0Qp.m. Strike possibility looming in Waterton Jinne 1 to September 4 - P.fK)aiin.i^t0:0Op!m. BY STEVEN KENWORTHY dens, gate attendants, historical re employees in the west get paid more than searchers, administrative support staff, their eastern counterparts meaning Parks September 5 to September 30 Waterton is known as the land where trades people, maintenance workers and Canada employees in Waterton get a lower 9:00 ,a,m. to 6 p.m. the mountains meet the prairies but it could canal operators. rate than Banff. be where the tourists meet the picket line Results of a national strike vote re "You're making $2-$3 less an hour iff in the next few weeks if an agreement can leased on April 8 showed that PSAC mem you're east of Banff." CAMPGROUNDS OPEN: not be reached between Parks Canada and bers were 87 per cent in favour of taking Parks Canada is also proposing to cut Glacier: Apgar. Bowman Lk. its employees. job action. In Waterton Lakes National weekend and shift premiums, which could (May 17), Sprague Creek- A strike by unionized employees at Park the support for job action was even result in an average decrease in pay of (May 17). Kintla Lk. (May 17) Canada's national parks and historic sites higher with 94 per cent of members voting $1,200 annually. Waterton: ^Townsite* Crandell is pending if negotiations between the Pub in favour. If a strike was to take place, the super : lic Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) and There were 55 employees in Waterton intendent, five managers and certain desig (May 16), BellyU (May 16) Parks Canada don't produce an agreement who cast ballots in the vote but if a strike nated employees that would be required to* during a conciliation board hearing sched was to take place about 100 employees, in cross the picket line could be the only peo BANK EXCHANGE RATE: uled for May 21 to 24. The union could be cluding term staff and students hired for ple left working for Parks Canada in Wa Rates vary at each business in a legal position to strike seven days af the summer, would be effected, said Terry terton. ter the conciliation board files its report, Brockman, the secretary/treasurer of Brockman said the PSAC has not indi $100 USS $154.55 CAN meaning the earliest that employees could PSCA Local 30114. cated what strategy it would use if there i& $100 CAN = $62.87 US be on strike would be the end of May or the Some of the main issues in the negotia a strike. ML INF0RMATh%l AS OF beginning of June. tions are pay, shift and weekend premiums "We don't know what kind of strike it MAY 9,2002 The PSAC represents some 4,600 Parks and hours of work and overtime. would be. It could be a full-blown strike or Canada employees including parks war Brockman said under the current set-up rotational or just select people." CAMPING SUPPLIES ESSO/EXXON OUTDOOR APPAREL GASBAR COMPLETE CURRENCY SERVICES PACKS & GROCERIES SLEEPING BAGS & SNACKS DirectCash HIKER SHUTTLE T-SHIRTS & HATS TVlwiey HIKING GUIDES JEWELRY EXCHANGE US & CDN Funds • NO SERVICE CHARGES • ATM SOUVENIRS FOOTWEAR VISA • MASTERCARD • INTERAC • CIRRUS BOOKS & MAPS GIFTS OUTDOOR GEAR APPAREL Waterton's BEST Currency Exchange Rates THEBOUNDARY Tuesday, May 14,2002 Going-to-the-Sun Road clearing under way BY STEVEN KENWORTHY phoned. two weeks last year compared to "Show Me" Day allows mem less than a day the year before. Snow removal on Glacier Na bers of the public to view the The biggest obstacle is usually tional Park's Going-to-the-Sun clearing operation with the aid of an area just east of Logan Pass Road started on April 2 this year park ranger-naturalists who have known as the Big Drift where a and crews have been making spotting scopes to afford better massive windblown snowdrift good progress opening portions viewing. that can be over 70 feet deep of the road on both the east and A decision on when and if forms each winter. The road has west side of the park. "Show Me" Day will take place to be located by surveyors before On the west side of Glacier a should be made by Tuesday, May the clearing can be begin. 116-mile section of the GTTS 14. Elsewhere in Glacier National Road is open from West Glacier Spring plowing of the GTTS Park road openings are being 'to Avalanche Creek. Cyclists and Road is an annual battle of man hampered by heavy spring snow pedestrians are allowed go fur- against nature. The plowing can falls. The road into Many Glacier jther up the road but are reminded take over two months to com in the northeast corner of the to stay on the right-hand side and plete and avalanche spotters are NATIONAL PARK SERVICE park is open but the road into be alert for falling snow, ice and used to monitor the slopes above Two Medicine on the park's Drift bUStGr*** Huge rotary snowblowers are used to clear areas [rocks. where plowing is taking place for of the Golng-to-the-Sun Road covered by deep snow. southeast side may still be closed Crews have cleared above the snow movement. Some days depending on the weather. The Loop and are currently on the crews have to clear their way Camas Road and Inside North steep upper section of the road home as new slides release and use. Unfortunately, those road change from year to year. Fork Road on the west side of which traverses 70 avalanche cover areas already plowed. avalanches typically require sus Last year the area known as Big Glacier are still closed. paths making the work very dan "The dangers of spring plow tained warm, sunny weather. If Bend was covered in upwards of For road conditions and gerous and challenging. ing of the Going-to-the-Sun Road additional snow accumulates dur 60 feet of snow in places as a re "Show Me" Day information call. Clearing operations on the east are legendary," says Glacier's in ing April and May, the avalanche sult of a series of avalanches re (406) 888-7800 or visit the park's side of GTTS Road have opened terim superintendent Pete Hart. danger starts all over again." leasing at the same time. Clearing website at: www.nps.gov/glac a six-mile portion from St. Mary "Park employees have died while Challenges in clearing the the Big Bend section took almost .to Rising Sun. Non-motorized working on clearing snow. We traffic is also allowed to continue never want that to happen again. further up the road under the Consequently, safety remains our [same conditions as on the west top priority in plowing.the wind New Superintendent for Glacier side of the park. ing, narrow mountain road. Al BY STEVEN KENWORTHY "Pete Hart represents Plowing was hampered by up though newer equipment makes the very best the NPS to 50 inches of new snow that plowing much more efficient, na There's a new face at the has to offer," said Karen [fell in the higher elevations from ture dictates when the upper helm of Glacier National Park Wade, Intermountain Re May 3-7. The new snow has roadway opens. Naturally occur this spring as Pete Hart is cur gional Director of the raised the avalanche danger and ring avalanches must be allowed rently serving as interim superin NPS. "I personally asked ithe park's annual "Show Me" to slide down the steep mountain tendent following the departure him to take this assign JDay, scheduled for this Thursday, slopes above the roadway before of Suzanne Lewis, who took over ment because I wanted May 16, may have to be post- sections can be opened for public as superintendent of Yellowstone Glacier to continue to National Park in February. have outstanding leader Hart has been with the,U.S. ship. I felt I owed that to National Park Service for 33 the park, to its staff, and years, starting in 1968 at Mount to the surrounding com Walerlon Lakes ^flik Rainer National Park following munities and tribes." GOL.V <c o %« ** as fli ^H_^^Jp military service in Vietnam. Over Hart said he was hon the years Hart has worked at oured to be asked to fill Grand Teton National Park, in as acting superinten The Waterton Lakes Golf Course Yosemite National Park, Cape dent. would like to welcome everyone back Cod National Seashore, Great "As one who loves for another great season of Smoky Mountains National Park, the mountains, I look Theodore Roosevelt National forward to familiarizing PH0T0 COURTESY U.S. NATIONAL PARK SERVICE Park and as chief of NPS ranger myself with the park dur Pete Hart will serve as the interim activities in Washington, D.C. ing this short assign superintendent for Glacier National Park. FUN, FOOD & GOLF His last posting was as super ment." We are now in full operation and our intendent of New River Gorge His love of hiking reached a the-Sun Road. National River in West Virginia climax last year when Hart ful "My priority is to continue the hours are 8 a.m.