UPDATED - Media Advisory - Coast Guard union joins with Wilderness Committee's Ben West, BC Federation of Labour President Jim Sinclair and Vancouver Park Board Commissioner Constance Barnes, TODAY to warn that closing Vancouver Marine Communications centre will endanger Port of Vancouver

News conference TODAY - Wednesday October 3 at 1:30 p.m. - Vancouver Lookout - at top of Harbour Centre building

VANCOUVER, Oct. 3, 2012 /CNW/ - Closing Vancouver's Marine Communications & Traffic Service centre will endanger both the environment and lives in Canada's busiest port, says the union representing the Canadian Coast Guard's Marine Communications Officers.

Today's news conference is in the Vancouver Lookout in the Harbour Centre building, just a few floors above the Marine Communications & Traffic Service centre that directs and monitors tanker, freighter, cruise ship, tugboat, pleasure craft and all other vessel traffic in the Port.

The federal government is also closing Canadian Coast Guard Marine Communications & Traffic Service centres in Comox and Tofino, further jeopardizing safety at sea.

The Canadian Auto Workers Local 2182 - representing Canadian Coast Guard Marine Communications Officers - will hold the news conference at:

1:30 p.m. on Wednesday October 3 at the Vancouver Lookout - top of Harbour Centre building - 555 West Hastings Street

Attending will be CAW Local 2182 Regional Director Allan Hughes, Wilderness Committee Communications Coordinator Ben West, Vancouver Park Board Commissioner Constance Barnes and BC Federation of Labour President Jim Sinclair.  Vancouver City Councilor Kerry Jang is unable to attend due to Council business but a statement from him will be read.

SOURCE: CAW Local 2182

Allan Hughes at cell 250-703-6401 or Bill Tieleman, West Star Communications, cell 778-896-0964 or 604-844-7827.
Website: http://www.2182.ca/en/index.html