/R E P E A T -- Media Advisory - The Teamsters donate $40,000 to the victims of Lac-Mégantic/

Teamsters Canada will donate $40,000 to the Canadian Red Cross to help out the victims in Lac-Mégantic...

LAVAL, QC, July 23, 2013 /CNW Telbec/ - Teamsters Canada has collected $40,000 from its locals throughout the country and it will be donated to help out the victims of the Lac-Mégantic rail tragedy.

This sum will be remitted to the Canadian Red Cross by the officers of the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference (TCRC) during a visit to Lac-Mégantic on Wednesday July 24. The TCRC , although not representing employees on the MMA Railroad, represents almost all of the workers who operate trains for the main rail carriers as well as short lines.

"The Lac-Mégantic crash is the worst rail tragedy that I've witnessed in my lifetime, states Rex Beatty, president of the TCRC. "I understand the population's suffering and they can rest assured that they can count on our support."

All local unions as well the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference - Maintenance of Way Employees Division (TCRC-MWED) contributed to the donation.

However, Rex Beatty cautions the population against the temptation of rushing to judgement but rather wait until  the Transportation Safety Board has released its findings" Beatty say;. We must remain vigilant in assuring a proper  assessment of this incident ,including any root cause contributing  factors."

Moreover, the union leader notes with regret that  an opposition to train traffic through municipalities and regions is taking place.

"Tens of thousands of Canadians in all regions of the country depend on rail transportation for their livelihood," he points out. "Preventing trains from using the tracks would have a devastating impact on the economy."

Instead, Mr. Beatty recommends an integrated approach between the various stakeholders as well as the implementation of tighter security procedure.

"Today, we are donating money but our future actions will be aimed at improving safety in the rail industry. We owe that to the victims of this tragedy. It is only once the causes have been identified, assessed and corrected that solutions will be possible."

	What: Remittal of a $40,000 cheque to the Canadian Red Cross
	Who: Rex Beatty and Benoit Brunet, respectively president of the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference and general chair locomotive engineers (East). Stéphane Lacroix, director of communications for Teamsters Canada, will also be present.
	Where: In front of the Polyvalente Montignac
	When: Wednesday July 24, 2013 at 3:00 p.m.
	Officers of the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference will be on hand to answer questions in English and French from media representatives. Contact Stéphane Lacroix at 514-609-5101 if you wish to schedule an individual interview.

The Teamsters represent 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.

SOURCE: TEAMSTERS CANADA

Stéphane Lacroix, Director of Communications, Teamsters Canada
Mobile: [phone]
Office: 450-682-5521, ext. 236
Email: [email protected]