Laval, February 4, 2013 – The Teamsters are already in talks with all the stakeholders in order to improve worker safety and training in the armored transport industry.
The robbery of G4S trucks in Longueuil and Toronto has highlighted the need for companies offering valued goods transportation to revisit certain operating procedures and decisions.
“We’re well aware of the psychological impact these robberies have on our 1,000 Canadian members who work in this industry,” said Teamsters Canada’s Communications Director, Stéphane Lacroix. “We’re also worried about the public’s safety.”
For this reason, the Teamsters have already started discussions with the Minister of Public Safety, Steven Blaney as well as armored transport firms. In fact, Teamsters Canada is the only union to sit down at the same table with both employers and the government.
“We appreciate the support of our fellow unions, but we don’t think that ranting and raving in public is going to further our cause,” added Lacroix. “We feel that negotiations are a better way to solve the problems.”
Lacroix goes on to say that “Having teams of two in the truck is just one of many issues we plan to resolve very shortly.”
Moreover, Garda’s acquisition of G4S doesn’t change anything for the 400 Québec workers represented by the Teamsters Union. The collective agreement negotiated by the parties remains in effect and the members will be informed of any changes.
The Teamsters represents 115,000 members in Canada in all trades. The International Brotherhood of Teamsters, with which Teamsters Canada is affiliated, has 1.4 million members in North America.
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Information:
Stéphane Lacroix, Director of Public Relations
Cell: 514-609-5101
Email: slacroix@teamsters.ca
