"I was there when we brought the Union in. The first-time contract they won for us was unbelievable. It changed the quality of my life. I am now a Shop Steward and enjoy working with my Union and looking after my fellow workers. "
Teamsters Canada launched a television ad campaign on rail safety.
The Lac-Mégantic tragedy in July 2013 highlighted the importance of protecting the health and safety of the general public and of the 12,000 workers that the Teamsters represent in the industry.
“We want to send a clear message to the federal government: we need more inspectors on the track,” explains Robert Bouvier, president of Teamsters Canada. “The conclusions of the investigation conducted by the Transportation Safety Board [TSB] on the Lac-Mégantic train derailment are clear in this regard.”
We shall recall that TSB officials explained that the derailment was caused by 18 factors, namely the employer’s safety violations and Transport Canada’s inadequate control over the rail company’s activities.
This report—just as the one released by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA)—clearly points the finger at self-regulation. By its very nature, this aberration—which is currently an industry standard—cannot protect the workers and the population’s safety.
“There remains a lot to be done to ensure an optimal level of safety,” adds the unionist. “The simplest and most effective solution would be to hire a greater number of inspectors to oversee the rail carriers’ activities.”
The campaign will air during hockey games on SportsNet, TSN, RDS and TVA Sports, over the coming weeks.
“We are going to continue putting pressure on the federal government. The utmost importance must once again by given to rail safety,” concludes the union leader.
To watch the advertisement click the link below: