Not JUST A poc’s BEST FRIEND cccecceccecceneeceenensenseeneenell This South Vancouver vet is a surgeon, a dentist and a dermatologist for four-legged friends of all sizes LEV JACKSON photo Langara student Cadine Boechler (right) is one of the locked-out Rocky Mountaineer workers who have been picketing the company’s Cottrell Street facility since last June. ‘Don't be ascab, says union Locked-out workers worry Langara students unaware of work rights By LEV JACKSON nknowingly, many Langara stu- dents are making life harder for locked-out unionized workers of a local tourism company. Since Rocky Mountaineer locked out their employees last June, negotiations between the company and the union have broken down. With no end to the lockout in sight, the company continues to hire replace- ment workers, known as scabs, in place of their longtime employees. The union, Teamsters Local 31, suspects some of those hired as scabs are Lang- ara students. “The people that serve as scabs are often unaware of the negative effects of scab labour for working conditions and wage standards in the province and be- yond,” said Kim Marshall, a Rocky Mountaineer employee for more than 12 years. The employees are asking for over- time wages after 11 hours of work. “If the company were to negotiate with us the problem would be re- solved,” said Marshall. “But they feel no pressure to negotiate because they can still operate their trains.” “T planned on working here and be- ing able to put myself through school,” said Cadine Boechler, a locked-out em- ployee and Langara student. See SCABS, page 2 Even if you think you're healthy, get tested Many don’t know they are HIV-positive; next week’s sexual health fair hopes to increase awareness By JACQUIE RICHARDSON ual heath? If you’re sexually ac- tive but haven’t been tested for sexually transmitted infections or HIV, on the spot testing and referrals will be available at Langara’s sexual health fair on Tuesday, March 20, in the Build- ing A foyer. A new blood test for HIV called a &, ue D: you know the status of your sex- “finger poke” will be used as an alter- native to needle-drawn blood testing. “Tt hurts less, you get results in 60 seconds, it’s fast, painless and on the spot,” said Roxanne Castillo, one of the organizers for the HIV testing. According to Vancouver Coastal Health, a 20-year-old diagnosed HIV- positive who immediately seeks out treatment can expect to live to at least age 73. However, an HIV-positive per- son who puts off diagnosis and treat- ment may have a shorter lifespan and a far poorer quality of life as his or her immune system begins to fail. According to 2010 data from the B.C. Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, an estimated 18,000 British Columbians were living with HIV. Of those, approx- imately one in four were believed to be unaware of their HIV-positive status. Nine organizations will be present at Tuesday’s health fair, including HIM organization, a community organiza- tion dedicated to strengthening the health and well-being of gay men; Q- munity, Vancouver’s queer resource center; and AIDS Vancouver. For those who get tested for HIV, both pre- and post-test counselling will be offered. “Feel free to drop by and get tested,” said Castillo’s colleague Eunice Uy. Free condoms and other items will be available, as well as free information on sexual health. SCAB labourers? ME Workers hired to replace striking or locked-out workers HH illegal under BC laws, but legal under federal laws Source: Teamsters Local 21 Impact of budget not clear No answers, yet, from college and university administrators about $100 million cut to funding By AGUSTINA COCCARO saying how they plan to cope with a projected cash shortfall an- nounced in last month’s B.C. budget. Finance Minister Kevin Falcon said the government plans to cut $100 mil- lion from current funding levels to post-secondary institutions. The Voice asked Yvonne Ohara, the college’s com- munication and marketing manager, how these cuts would affect the college and whether tuition would be affected. Unfortunately, the administration had not responded as of press time. In last week’s issue of the Ubyssey, UBC officials also declined to comment on how they plan to deal with funding cuts. In past years, funding concerns at UBC were resolved partly through in- creased tuition. Rising tuition costs have been an is- sue across the country. Students pro- tested last month in Quebec and Hali- fax because of plans to increase tuition. B.C. students protested in the mid- 90s over the provincial NDP govern- ment’s cuts to education funding and at the time many were concerned about tuition increases being used to offset the cuts. “The B.C. budget does not reflect the priorities that British Columbians have,” said Michael Olson, B.C. repre- sentative for the Canadian Federation of Students. An August poll showed 87 per cent of British Columbians support the freez- ing or reduction of tuition fees, he said. Oe: at Langara College aren’t JACQUIE RICHARDSON photo Roxana Castillo (left) and Eunice Uy are organizing the HIV testing for next week’s sexual health fair.