“Installing
cameras to monitor train workers does nothing to improve safety
in this industry, warned Teamsters Canada President François
Laporte. Increasing safety requires hiring railway inspectors,
allowing workers to rest when they are tired, and most
importantly, monitoring the rail carriers very closely as well
as ensuring a transparent public consultation before granting a
rail carrier an exemption to a safety rule.”
“These are the types of measures that will
reduce the risk of such a tragedy happening again.”
The evidence filed by the Crown apparently
failed to convince the jury: after deliberating for nine days, they
returned with a unanimous verdict of “not guilty”.
“My thoughts are, once again, with the families
and friends of the victims of the tragedy, said the Union leader. I
simply want to tell them that I strongly believe this disaster was
caused by a careless employer and that justice will be done when the
criminal trial of the MM & A is over.”
The Teamsters union represents close to
125,000 workers across Canada, including 12,000 workers in the rail
industry. The International Brotherhood of Teamsters has 1.4 million
members in North America.
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Information:
Stéphane Lacroix, Director of
Communications and Public Affairs
Cell: 514-609-5101
