Teamsters working to improve public safety in the armored car industry

The Teamsters Union is still making representations to the advisors of Public Safety Minister Steven Blaney...

LAVAL, QC, July 4, 2014 /CNW Telbec/ - Two Teamsters representatives met with the advisors of Public Safety Minister Steven Blaney at the end of June to discuss how to improve the safety of workers in the armored car industry.

This meeting took place shortly after a shooting on June 19, 2014, that left one Garda armored car guard injured.

"Although the Toronto shooting is an emotionally charged issue, we chose to discuss the matter rather than cause a public uproar or make unreasonable demands," said Jim Chalmers, director of the Armored car division of Teamsters Canada. "We have a place at the table and we plan to use it to bring about concrete action."

The fact is that the Teamsters' representatives have been discussing this matter with the stakeholders for a while. Talks have revolved around the selection and training of workers as well as the implementation of more effective technologies.

" We are always concerned about the safety of our members, the industry's workers and the public, said Owen Lane of Local Union 419. We don't want or need the public to feel uneasy when they see armed guards working in shopping malls or around banks and ATMs. We will continue to monitor and help improve our procedures to ensure a safe work environment that responds to the workers needs."

The representations to federally elected officials will resume in the fall and the Teamsters Union will be invited to express its point of view and suggest viable solutions that will have a positive impact on the safety of their members and the general public.

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.

 

SOURCE: Teamsters Canada

Nathalie Mayer, Communications Department, Telephone: [phone], Email: [email protected]; Facebook.com/TeamstersCanada - Twitter.com/TeamstersCanada - Teamsters.ca