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Strike PageZA - THE CHARLOTTE POST - Thursday, November 14,1991 tory. Union Steward Cora Wil liams, who represents die tary workers. Is a member of the negotiations committee and said the committee has "gotten some things settled, but we still have a long way toga" Williams has worked at the nursing home for 11 years. Williams requested Thanksgiving vacation time Oct. 3. well within the six week notification time for vacation request. She was denied Immediately without explanation. "In 11 years I never thought I would be facing what I'm facing now, said Williams. Strikers are being compen sated by the Union on a Continued From Page lA 'The company had been vi olating the employees' rights guaranteed by federal law," said Hanson, "We had no other choice but to file charg es to protect the workers' rights." The union filed unfair la bor practice charges In July with the National Labor Re lations Board. On Aug. 23, the Board's General Counsel Issued a complaint against Avante. A hearing Is sched uled for Dec. 12 before an ad ministrative law Judge. According to Hanson, this Is the first strike at a nursing home In North Carolina hls- weekly basis for their salary for as long as the strike lasts. Organizations from North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia have donated food. Strikers have had a lot of support from the community and their families since the strike began. Gladys Bland, who has worked at the nurs ing home 6 years, said her family has been very suppor tive. "They feel I'm dolnjg the right thing," she said. "I'm very sure everything Is going to work out In the end. I have no doubt aboout It." William Fletcher, a retired union worker, has volun teered to walk with the strik ers since Nov. 9. Fletcher Is a native of Mount Vernon, N.Y., and has lived In Char- "I think it's a shame. This could very easily happen to any worker in Char lotte." Retired union worker William Fletcher, a supporter of the Avante strike, on how the worker have been treated by the nursing home. SUBSCRIBE TO THE POST lotte for four years. "I think It's a shame," he said. "This could very easily happen to any worker In Charlotte." Fletcher's wife and a friend also volunteered their sup port by carrying signs and with monetary contribu tions. "E>very time I come out I'm Just hoping someone will come out from the communi ty to show their concern." Mecklenburg DSS: A Ball Of Confusion Continued From Page lA trash cans turned over, their papers scattered about the desk and floor." Black em ployees believe this to be both harmful to the adoptive children and disruptive of efforts to ultimately find them permanent placement. A White employee routine ly Invokes the name of a rel ative who Is a City Council member "to Intimidate Blacks and extort favorit ism." Sally Gordon, an adoption specialist with DSS, admits she Is a sister- in-law of Republican coun cilman Pat McCrory. How ever. McCrory said he had "no knowledge of any such happenstance whatsoever." White supervisors author ized advertising in the Na tional Enquirer several months ago in an effort to find prospective adoptive parents. There were also plans for appearances on the "Geraldo" television show, apparently alrred toward the same purpose. Gordon ad mitted one National Enquir er listing took place but said the television appearances never materialized. 'That approach was subsequently abandoned," she added. Namibia LookingFor Friends Ambassador Was In Charlotte Continued From Page lA population — than the rule. With so many Illiterates, It's "I put a stop to the National Enquirer thing as soon as I heard about It," said Marie Shook. "It seemed exploitive of the adoptive children. Also, they should have at least flown such a national media effort past me before implementation. I sent the adoption unit folks back to the drawing board—to put to gether a more thoughtful me dia plan. They've never got ten back to me on It. The County Commission was never informed on this be cause It never was an actual policy thing." Pat Martin, whose Youth and Family Service Depart ment originated the Enquir er ad, said Shook never or dered the media campaign killed. "She expressed con cern—but did not direct us to refrain from It. We first thought It a good strategy, when It didn't require sub stantial Justification. When unanticipated concern arose, we simply decided It wasn't worth It and abandoned the whole thing." Black employees criticize the apparent lack of commu nication throughout the vast bureaucracy as one of the chief problems. One sore point Is a 1989 reorganlza- dlfficult to attract high-tech businesses. "The ability to absorb tech nology Is very low," Kalo- moh said. Since gaining Indepen dence, Namibian officials have tried to make friends around the world, with the U.S. a major target. Kalo- mah's visit to Charlotte was part of the process, especial ly In extending the hand of friendship to African Amer- Spearman Named Purchasing Chief FROM STAFF REPORTS Gregory Kirk Spearman, director of purchasing In Savan nah, Ga., has been named director of the Charlotte- Mecklenburg Purchasing Dept. effecUve Dec. 2. Local YMCAs Celebrate FROM STAFF REPORTS A couple of established YMCAs will have celebra tions in the coming week. The McCrorey branch will re-name its gymnasium Nov. 16 at 5 p.m. The facility will be called the Alexander- Martln Gymnasium, after long-time Charlotte resi dents Zack Alexander and Thomas "Jack" Martin. The dedication Is part of a banquet and awards presen tation that will also honor the organization's original board. Admission Is $25, with proceeds to go to YMCA programs. The Johnston branch at 3025 North Davidson St. will celebrate Its 40th birthday Nov. 21 at 4 p.m. There will be a recognition program and cutting of cake as well as remarks from board members and games. The Johnston YMCA was recently selected by the Unit ed Way's Success By Six pro gram as the lead agency for the North Charlotte neigh borhood. The Charlotte Post ISSN 9655-0008 Published Weekly At 1531 Camden Road Charlotte. N.C. 28203 Phone (704) 376-0496 Subscription Rates $21 Yearly $18 Senior Citizens Tbe publisher Is not responsible for the return of unsolicited news, pictures or advertising copy unless necessary postage accompanies said copy. Publisher Gerald O. Johnson Co-publisher Robert L. Johnson Managing Editor Herbert L. White Editors Winfred B. Cross (Entertainment) Madel}m Hooker (Lifestyles) Production Manager Charles M. Ramseur Chief Photographer Calvin L. Ferguson Circulation Manager Gwen Jackson Business Manager Betty Potts Advertishig Manager Fran Farrer-bradley Advertising Executives Connie Williams Brenda J. Egleston tlon Inaugurated by Laurie Bettlnghaus, head of the Per manency Planning adoption unit. Many also criticize Bettlnghaus for her manage ment style and lack of depth of experience In adoptions. "Very few of the chiefs have any significant experience, " one black employee said. Bettlnghaus could not be reached for comment. "I've heard that Ms. Bettin- ghaus Is prone to leaping to try new thtngs--sometlmes apparently without much forethought," Shook said. "Regardmg experience levels. Its probably true that many department heads have little prior experience in adop tions. Regarding racial bias or lawsuits—I have an open- door policy. The employees can come to me." "Ms. Bettlnghaus--the whole bank of bosses up there—are very hard to deal with," said Sylvia Grier, head of Mecklenburg Friends of Black Children. Her com munity group acts as a facili tator of adoptions. "It Is a nightmare. They stonewall about vital information and are usually very uncoopera tive. They've forgotten com pletely about the children." "Ms. Bettlnghaus Is Innov- Icans. 'We hope to cement the re lationship betweeen this country and Namibia," he said. Africa's emergence as a world power has yet to be translated politically, at least among the leadership at the United Nations. Kalo- moh said the secretary gen eral's position, soon to be va cated by Javier Perez ative," said Martin. "Some of her Innovations I've ap proved, some I haven't. She was brought on board by John Walton, who reports to me.I I'm not aware of the ex perience level In the adop tion area—but I, too, have an open-door policy. Nobody came to me." Wall said that Martin brought Bettlnghaus Into the permanency planning area. The flnger-polntlng and bu reaucratic gridlock seem to bear out many of the criti cisms of the adoption system put in place by Mecklenburg County. It Is so labyrinthine that many of the workers themselves don't understand how It operates. Wall said she makes almost weekly visits to the down town adoption unit, but knew nothing of the prob lems or complaints. Shook admitted she had never visit ed in six years as Assistant County Manager. Now she plans to do so. Meanwhile, the tensions bubble. The unhappy em ployees want to form a group to meet with Bob Walton and perhaps other County Com mission members to redress grievances. deCuellar, should be filled by an African. Since the world body's birth In 1945, no Black person has headed the organization. Six Africans are among the candidates to replace deCuellar. "The reality of the UN since Its Inception Is that no Afri can has been secretary gener al," he said. "We do believe there are Africans who are Imminently qualified." Fletcher sympathizes with the workers. "These people don't want much," he said. "They Just want to restore what they had." There will be a fish fry to support the strikers at Avante on Nov. 16 from 12 p.m.-8 p.m. at the Fire Fight ers Union Hall, 4419 Monroe Road. EARN CASH WITH AULARALE SKIN CARE AND COSMETICS 391-7446 Need Money For Higher Education? Why not let us help? There are many sources of available monies for graduate and undergraduate students. For a small fee, we can find those sources of scholar ships and other financial aid for which you may qualify. Contact us today. Send request for a free application package to: TLCD Financial Aid Finders P.O. Box 13267 Research Triangle Park. NC 27709 Name ^ Address City Siaie/Zip You are under no o^'ligation to purchase this service. HOMES!!! HOMES!!! HOMES!!! HOMES!!! HOMES!!! NEW-EXISTING-HUD-VA & NON QUALIFYING LOANS. If you are con sidering buying or selling a home... Call ME NOW! SPECIAL FINANCING & LOW INTEREST RATES. 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The Charlotte Post (Charlotte, N.C.)
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Nov. 14, 1991, edition 1
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