From the Prince George Free Press, July 7/03

Things have gone to the dogs recently at the SPCA.
The first inkling that Murphy’s Law was about to take up residence in the local shelter appeared in early June when a fundraising challenge against Kamloops came up short, earning just over 25 per cent of the $80,000 target for each of the cities.
In the midst of the challenge, the Prince George SPCA saw a major seizure of over 60 cats that alone increased the shelter’s vet bills by up to $10,000.
They also found out this spring the BCSPCA will lose $1 million in gaming revenues.
And 14 managers across the province, including northern regional manager Steve Raper, lost their jobs last week in the wake of what is projected to be a $3 million budget deficit.
When contractors clearing the new casino site last Sunday accidentally dropped a tree on a power line, causing a power surge that fried electrical appliances in hundreds of homes, the SPCA lost all its computers and most of its diagnostic equipment.
“Thousands and thousands of dollars of equipment is fried. We’re having trouble functioning right now,” said branch manager Jeannine Woodhouse.
And in the midst of what is turning out to be an annus horribilis for the SPCA, unionized staff at the local shelter are threatening job action if they don’t get a 38 per cent wage increase over the next three years.
“I cannot afford 38 per cent. That would wipe us out,” said Woodhouse. The local SPCA offered the nine unionized employees, members of the Canadian Union of Public Employees local 1048-01, raises equal to nine per cent over three years, she said.
“If the staff strike, well, the staff strike. I cannot offer them more money. I thought we offered them a very fair settlement considering most unions are accepting zero per cent with no layoffs.”
A union representative would not confirm or deny whether the 38 per cent figure was accurate.
“The issue isn’t around percentage. It’s around being treated fairly, the same way workers in other SPCAs are being treated,” said CUPE national representative Leann Dawson. “We’re certainly not looking to wipe the SPCA out. We’re looking for fairness and parity for the workers.”
Each SPCA is a separate bargaining unit. Prince George workers get paid substantially less than their counterparts in other parts of the province, said Dawson.
Woodhouse acknowledged the difference in pay between different cities. But she noted the cost of living in places such as Vancouver and Victoria is much higher.
The bottom line, she said, is the SPCA is in dire financial straits everywhere in the province.
“There is no money. This is why they’re cutting all these [management] positions. Everybody is tightening their belts.”
The SPCA relies completely on public donations. It will continue to receive a reduced amount of gaming revenues from the province. Otherwise, it gets no government help, even though it is responsible for enforcing the provincial Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act.
“It would be nice if the government did help,” said Woodhouse, adding there are no specific plans to seek government help.
But Dawson disputes the SPCA’s budget figures that show it burdened with a $3 million deficit. She also disputes the local shelter’s provisional budget, saying it includes inflated cost figures, although she wouldn’t go into detail.
“We have a difference of information around the financial position of the SPCA and that’s probably better worked out between us.”

Talks between CUPE and the SPCA have broken off. The union is awaiting a response to a request to speak with Craig Daniell, the provincial SPCA’s acting chief executive officer.
Dawson did not say what, if any, job action the union plans in the event the dispute can’t be resolved.

© Copyright 2003 Prince George Free Press