Indigo strikes back

Matt Jones, last seen in these pages as one of the Indigo union organizers, was fired from the downtown bookstore two weeks ago.

"I was called into the store manager's office where Mike Hobek, the regional manager of Human Resources was waiting for me," he says. "He told me he'd come to an arrangement that would benefit both parties - he was terminating my employment. How did that benefit me? He said if I liked my job I'd come in on time."

After the Indigo workers filed for certification, management announced they'd fire anyone late to work three times - not three times in a month or a year, but three times ever, giving themselves a way to fire almost any one at will. Under the Quebec Labour Code, management cannot make any changes to any working conditions between the time the certification request is filed and the time the first contract is negotiated.

Jones called his parent union, the CSN, who told him to come to the head office. "By the time I got there, a formal complaint to the Quebec Labour Tribunal was filled out and waiting for my signature. The papers were filed at the tribunal the same day," says Jones. The CSN also put Jones on a $200-per-week stipend out of the defence fund. If Jones is reinstated and awarded his back pay, he'll repay the CSN out of that. If not, he won't owe them anything.

Store manager Dan Mastropaulo refused to comment on the case. : » Ken Hechtman

Advice for
fancypants cops

Pissed off Montreal police officers have granted themselves the right to zip up in anything from leather pants, sweats or even bright red plaid golf pants. City cops - who aren't allowed to strike - have been protesting stalled contract talks by shunning their workpants. Almost all the 4,200 local cops are tucking into something other than the standard uniform pants, according to Police Brotherhood flak Alain Legault.

"I've seen officers wearing salmon and red-coloured pants and one was wearing pants with pictures of Bart Simpson on them," he says. The boys in blue - err, and all those other lovely colours - earn $62,000 after six years of service but they're disgruntled because the city has offered them raises of zero per cent for 2002, zero for 2003 and three per cent in each of the three years after. They're asking for a three-year deal with retroactive raises of one per cent for 2002, 3.5 for 2003 and 3.25 for 2004.

Unlike their first pants strike three years ago, this trouser protest incites officers to not just to wear jeans but pants of any variety and any colour. Marie, a salesgirl from Biggie Jeans, recommends that cops celebrate their new trouser freedom with denims "not too tight or long, because the police have to be able to run fast to catch bad guys." A salesgirl from Le Jeaner on Mont-Royal E. suggests that our cops don tights jeans, "so people can see their bums better." : » Kristian Gravenor

Fashionistas
conceptualize fun

Today, Thursday, March 20, students will be strutting for AIDS awareness at Phassion 2003, McGill Management's annual AIDS benefit fashion show. Over the years the group has raised somewhere in the vicinity of $90,000 for different AIDS foundations. The new organizers of Phassion have changed the concept of the show and, with many sponsors behind them, are hyping that this year's event will be the most successful in its history.

"Traditionally, the show has been more of a chi-chi, sit-down thing," says Megan Fischer, Phassion 2003's director. In fact, I seem to recall a very long night a few years back at one such event - a kind of wanna-be gala vibe, high-priced seats (that I hadn't paid for) adorned with gift-bags (of which I snagged two), and many families in their Sunday best. Fischer assures me that this year will be more laid back. The idea is a fashion show within a party, "the runway will be open, there will be live performers - break-dancers, drag queens," and DJs spinning until closing. Oh, and drinks.

The show will also feature the creations of Montreal designers de preférence Yso and Dennis Gagnon, student designers from McGill and LaSalle College, as well as some bigger name brands. Students can get in for $20, others for $30, and all proceeds go to the MAC AIDS Fund. The show takes place at 1280 St-Denis and starts at 10 p.m. Tickets are on sale on campus. Go to www.phassion.ca or call 286-8134 for specific info. : » Alexandra Spunt

Angel >> Erotic service for the handicapped Realizing that people suffering from certain physical or mental handicaps can't fully actualize their sexual potential, Pro Infirmis, a Swiss-based support organization for the disabled, will be forming groups of workers offering that lovin' feelin' to those who the group says are often considered asexual by society at large. The service, to begin in Zurich by the end of the year, will include massages, caresses, "sensual experiences" and erotic games. Full intercourse is not, in principle at least, on offer. Prices and terms are to be determined in advance by workers and customers.
Insect >> Canadian Forces fuel kickbacks It was revealed this week that soldiers and civilians working for the Department of National Defence have been enjoying illegal kickbacks when refuelling at diesel stations across the country. The military's own investigation turned up the widespread fraud after a two-year sting operation beginning in 1999, uncovering evidence that its people were accepting or demanding kickbacks when using their federal fuel cards. Worse, it turns out that senior brass have known about the practice for over 20 years but did nothing to discourage it. So far, only 10 soldiers have pleaded guilty to the charge, although almost 300 suspects were identified in the probe. They were fined $200 each.