Accident marks rail industry’s fifth workplace fatality in thirteen months…
Edmundston, NB, December 4, 2018 – A Canadian National (CN) worker died following a workplace accident this morning in Edmundston, New Brunswick. The victim was a 33-year-old father of two and a member of the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference (TCRC). He started working at CN in September as a conductor/foreman trainee. His name is not being released at this time.
“Our brother was a proud father of two who loved his new job and talked about it all the time. We are shocked and saddened by his passing,” said the president of Teamsters Canada, François Laporte. “On behalf of our over 125,000 members, I would like to express our sincerest condolences to his loved ones and co-workers.”
This marks the rail industry’s fifth workplace fatality in thirteen months. While the investigations surrounding these most recent fatalities are still ongoing, the industry as a whole needs to work together to end these senseless tragedies.
Teamsters Canada has learned that the Transportation Safety Board is deploying a team of investigators to the scene of the accident. The union will cooperate fully with the investigation and monitor its progress closely. Once the facts have been determined, the union will sit down with the company and federal officials to address the issue more broadly.
“Our hearts go out to our brother’s friends and family. We promise them, and our members, that we will never stop fighting to improve rail safety in this country,” said Doug Finnson, president of the TCRC, which represents 12,000 rail workers nationally.
Out of respect for the victim’s family, and because of the ongoing investigation, the Teamsters will release no further details about the accident at this time.
Teamsters represent close to 125,000 workers across Canada, including over 12,000 rail workers. The International Brotherhood of Teamsters, with which Teamsters Canada is affiliated, has 1.4 million members in North America.
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Media requests:
Christopher Monette
Director of Public Affairs
Teamsters Canada
Cell: 514-226-6002
[email protected]