Brothers, Sisters,
Last night, an armoured car worker with GardaWorld out of Local Union 879 in London, Ontario, was shot multiple times during a robbery at a Scotiabank ATM in the Waterloo region. He came out of surgery this morning and is in stable condition.
There are no easy words for this. A shooting like this is something few people in Canada’s armoured car industry have lived through. We are all feeling the shock and anger.
To our brother and his family: the entire Teamsters family is with you. Every one of us is pulling for a full recovery, and we will be here every step of the way.
To our members: please take care of yourselves and each other. If you are struggling, whether you were on shift or not, reach out to the Employee Assistance Program (EAP). Talking to someone after something like this is part of staying safe and well, not weakness.
In the meantime: stay alert and follow your protocols. If something doesn’t feel right, trust your gut and your training.
Your union has been in close contact with the company since this morning. We will keep pushing on every safety concern that comes out of this. If you have something to raise, talk to your steward or your local union. Like you, the Teamsters are here to protect.
In solidarity,
François Laporte
President, Teamsters Canada
John McCann
President, Local Union 879
