Phil Benson, Teamsters Canada, and Minister Blaney

Laval, November 7, 2013 — Teamsters Canada’s lobbyist, Phil Benson, has met with Steven Blaney, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, at the Conservative Party Convention in Calgary.

They discussed the tragic death of three G4S security guards and the serious injury of another when a fellow worker shot them in june 2012 on the University of Alberta campus in Edmonton. These workers were members of Teamsters Local Union 362.

The armoured cars industry has undergone a lot of changes in the last few years, introducing new technology and new ways of getting the job done. Teamsters Canada’s Armoured Cars Division is looking at it as well as the hiring practices and how it can ensure the high level of commitment and camaraderie that is needed to work in this industry.

Brother Benson will be meeting with Ministerial Staff in the next few weeks to continue the dialogue about safety. In the past, no level of government was willing to take the lead on this issue, but Minister Blaney expressed his concerned about it.

Teamsters Canada has started lobbying on this issue, and many others, several years ago and, more than ever, is committed to make sure that the Edmonton tragedy never happens again. Furthermore, our members in the armoured car industry continue to work with the Health and Safety Committees that have been actively monitoring the procedures companies are trying to introduce.

In brief, Teamsters Canada is the watchdog of the armoured cars industry and is committed to protect the general public and its members.