B.C. INTRODUCES 'FIRST-J0B' WAGE

Abbotsford853·8560 lnA,1I0 1hrrlrif~I

Clearbrook853-8598 lti. symptoms vaI} depending on the tyre nf anthrax contracIed hul cun mimic tho~c of the flu or u common cold. Al1hnugh un1ibiu1ics arc available 10treat anthrax infection, their long-term health con~eque11cesurc 1101 yet know.

The bacteria may :.ound nc.:wIn the gcnernl public hut is actually well k11ow1110 Cun(ldian scientists.

''A 101of work on anthrax a~ u biological weapon was done in Canada in the 1940s. It was tmc of the first biological wcupons 10 bi! producc.:d and is one of the easiest lo make," said John Thompson, director of the Mackenzie lns1i1u1c, which does research and provides commentary on organized violence and politicul instability.

Although anthrax has been around for decades, it has seldom been used as a weapon.

"What's 11ur111ullyprevented slates from using anthrax arc two things: There are more effective biological and chemical weapons available and stulcs know that if you attack the U.S or a NATO c11u111rywith it you can c.:xpcct to see your capital city lllrned into a parking lot," Thompson said.

Although amhuritics have 1101determined the source of the current anthrax outbrenk, Thompson believes it is another form of terrorism. He bh1mcs terrorist ' lock of national identity or allegiance with their willingness to use anthrax as a biological weapon. particularly against the U.S. "lslomk fundamentalists want 10 tttrget Western civilization. The U.S is just the flagship."

Ahhough Thompson believes he will sec the use of' anthrax on "mass scale" during his lifetime. he doesn't believe the general public should live in fear of the bacteria.

"You can· t prepare against every attack or contingency. I'm more worried about not looking both ways before crossing the: street or having a heart attack or getting c.:ancerthan I um ,tbout anthrax."

by Sarah MacNeill Morriso11.

Ubysscy at $6 an hour. you arc effectively complctc.:ly disadvantaged Md I think many employVANCOUVER (CUP) -The B.C. govern en; would not hesitate to take advantage of ment announced this week it will introduce students and fomilies," she.:said. a lower minimum wage for youth working their first jobs.

Starting November 15. first-tin,e workers in che province will be paid a 'first-job rate' of $6 an hour for the first 500 hours of their employment. The wage is $2 below B.C.'s regular minimum wage, which was rnised 40 cenls 10 $8 an hour this week.

"The first-job rate is n first slc.:p lo help strengthen youth employmc.:nt options:· labour minister Uruham Bruce said in u release. ''The l'irs1-job rate rccogni~cs the valu.ible service employers provide to new worker~. and the l'uct 1hu1it can take severul months before new workers arc fully lraincd.

Howc.:vcr, NOP MLA Jenny Kwa11,said the new system could easily be abused by employers.

''A person could work up lo chise to six nmnths ot $(1 pc·1hour and then gel !ired." she said. "I think it's a very dangcrou~ thing to do. :ind i1 puts pc.:oplcal u very , utnerable stage in terms of c.:rnploymcnt practices and e111ployme11ts11rndurds.

''ll's shocking LO me 1hat they have implc men1cd this," Kwan sail.I.

The B.C. Govcrnmc.:nt and Service Employees· Union alsl1 critici1.ed the move. The union's presidenL, Gcorgc Heyman, culled the new wage "an insult to young workers.''

"This program is subject to wide-open nbusc by employers and will need a whole new system of record keeping to insure that each employees· hours arc accounted for." he said in a press release.

"I wonder if the premier is willing lo pay his ministers and deputy ministers 25 pc.:r cent less until they learn the ropes," Heyman said.

Kwan also expressed concern that 1hc new wage would affect you11g people. particularly students working towards posr-secondary degrees whu often rely on fourmonth work periods 10 fund their education.

"If you have to go through a training wage

Yvet1c Lu, a vice-president of the University of 13rilish Columbia's student a~sociution, said 1h1;diffc.:rcncc bcLween the regular minimum wage and the first-job wage could be prohibitive for students try• ing to pay for their education.

"This will be tough for s1udenls because six months is n I011g1i111r;and 500 hours al $2 nn hour [isJ $ IOOOand $ 1000 is a lot of money for a sIudc.:111,"she said.

Lucy Watson, an Ort(aniic.:r for the Canadian Federation of Students said her organization wn~ concen1l'd over the possibili1ic1>of u 1ui1ion increase 111the province. A dc.:crc.:asc in the minimum wuge for young workers, shc said. ~ould leave many people.: unable to afford college or university.

"It's very much I\ concern when we hear that students and young people arc put into a category thul's separate and dislinct,'' she said. "The B.C. Ubernls arc showing contempt for the v;1lt1e of work for young workcr1;."

8.C. will not be.:the only prnvince to have a 'training wage.'

Nova Scotia, the Nonhwest Territories and Ontario also have separate minimum wages for first-time workers.

However. the gap between the two different minimum wages in B.C. is $2. In olher provinces and territories thc variance ranges from 45 to 90 c.:cnls.

B.C. has the highest youth unemployment rate.:in Western Canada m 13.6 pa cent, compared with 8.4 per cent in Albc.:rta, I 0.5 p!.!r cent in Saskatchewan and 8.8 per cent in Muuitobu.