Laying Tracks for Safety: The Problems and the Search for Solutions.

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Laying Tracks for Safety The Problems and the
Search for Solutions.
May 16, 2008
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Safety MUST be the 1 Priority

• As leaders of the majority of bargaining unit
• members on all railways and as Teamsters
• we are on the front lines of rail safety.
• The Rail companies have realized record
• revenue over the last few years with the
• forecast of much more to come.
• They have dug their heels in at
• bargainingthey abuse our collective
• agreements and they have allowed the
• integrity of their track to be compromised all
  in
• the pursuit of greater profits.

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• Bargaining and the enforcement of collective
  agreements have almost always been
  confrontational arenas.
• We accept that and as frustrating as the battles
  may get no one dies from them.
• However, Safety is where we must draw the line.
  Production and profits cannot be put ahead of the
  safety of our membership and of the public.

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• Railways are running on the razors edge of
  safety.
• Longer Trains, heavier loads, more frequency is
  putting everyone at risk.
• DO THE MATH !!
• The more trains that are run and the heavier the
  loading the faster the deterioration of the
  infrastructure. Greater fluidity also equals
  more wear and tear.
• Obviously, when the deterioration is sped up, the
  need for greater maintenance and more frequent
  inspections increases proportionately.

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• However, as more trains are running, the ability
  to get on the track and inspect, repair or
  maintain decreases.
• Therefore, the infrastructure continues to
  deteriorate at a faster rate, maintenance
  schedules arent kept and defects are missed
  until.catastrophe.
• The same is true for the equipment. The harder
  you run it, the more maintenance it needs. The
  more you need to run it, the less time for
  maintenance and inspection. The deterioration
  increases until defects are missed and
  thencatastrophe.

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Mississauga, Ontario 1979 - Chlorine
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Taber Sub, Alberta 2001 CP Potash
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Detroit, 2004 CN derailment causes evacuation
because of jet fuel.
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Graniteville, SC 2005 Chlorine
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Painesville, Ohio 2007 - Propane
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Belleville, Ontario 2003 CP propane
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Prince George, BC 2007 - 50,000 gallons of
burning gasoline
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• These were just a few examples of the
• hundreds of mainline derailments every year.
• It is not a matter of If another
• tragedy on the rail will happen, it is a
• matter of Where.
• The When is any day now.
• Train accidents, especially for CN
• and CP, are significantly on the rise.

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• No matter how you spin the numbers, more trains
  are going on the ground.
• And the trains are carrying dangerous
  commodities.
• Poisons that kill like Anhydrous Ammonia and
  Chlorine.
• Explosives like propane and aviation fuel, that
  take lives and devastate the landscape.
• Every time a train derails, there is the
  potential for tragedy.

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Winnipeg, Manitoba - 2008
Though this is a grain car, there are anhydrous
ammonia cars in the background that could just as
easily have been on the ground.
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• I dont believe that the railway companies want
  train accidents.
• I believe that they want to run safe and
  productive lines.
• However, as transportation by rail takes off and
  profits skyrocket, the promise of increased
  revenue causes them to take risks.
• They weigh the odds and roll the dice, thinking
  that they are operating within acceptable
  parameters.

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• Like smokers, they know the risks but they chance
  it
• anyway.
• And the promise of million dollar bonuses can
  assuage a
• lot of guilt and justify at least in their eyes,
  far too many
• shortcuts.
• As the Eagles used to sing,
• Its the lure of easy moneyits got a very
  strong appeal.
• And thats where we come in. We cant just be
  their
• adversaries, we have to be their conscience.

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The Solutions

• The issue of rail safety has two facets.
• On one hand, we have to make the railways safe
  for
• our members.
• Though the stats for reportable injuries may
  fluctuate by slight degrees, the fact remains
  that they are far too frequent.
• In my twelve years as a Union officer, I have
  attended over a dozen funerals of CP employees,
  six who were personal friends.
• And my experience is sadly not unique.

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• The other side of rail safety is that we are also
  responsible for the safety of the public at
  large, including those who travel by rail and
  those who live by or near the tracks.
• As the people actually doing the work and
  operating the trains, our combined membership is
  in the best position to know what is being
  done, what isnt being done and what needs to be
  done to bring the infrastructure up to an
  acceptable level.
• But after years of frustration, we are left with
  this question
• How do we insure that our concerns are heard ?

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• We utilize the WHS committees to insure that
  risk assessments of ALL jobs are done and
  complaints are carried to management and to the
  regulatory bodies.
• We get fully involved in accident investigations
  to insure that they are looking for the root
  cause to aid in prevention, not evidence of
  blame so that the company can discipline.
• Even so, we are often left with partial resolves
  and no permanent solutions.
• The companies dont seem to accept that there are
  systemic problems which cannot be solved simply
  by increasing discipline.

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• To find the proper solutions we believe that ALL
  stakeholders must be involved.
• The public must be made aware of the dangers and
  be given a forum to speak up.
• The Government and regulatory bodies must enforce
  existing legislation and initiate new laws where
  necessary. Laws with teeth.
• The companies must commit to safety being the
  number one priority and also commit to working
  and dealing fairly with Labour to achieve that
  end.
• And we have to be actively involved. Not only as
  watchdogs but using our expertise to offer viable
  solutions for the future. We are the best
  qualified, motivated by the need to keep our
  people alive instead of the need to fill our
  pockets.
• Communication and Commitment are vital.

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SOLUTIONS
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• In Canada, we are in constant contact with the
  regulatory bodies (HRSDC, Labour Canada,
  Transport Canada, TSB, etc.).
• When we find systemic defects, we report them
  directly to Transport Canada as well as to the
  company.
• With the assistance of Teamsters Canada lobbyist
  Phil Benson, we have strengthened our
  relationships with politicians giving us a voice
  in Parliament so that laws get enforced and when
  necessary, changed.
• For example, last year the Federal Government
  ordered a review of the Rail Safety Act
  (something that had not been done for 10 years).

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• The Review Committee came back with 56
  recommendations for improvements.
• Through the untiring efforts of Brother Benson, I
  was called to present before the House of Commons
  Standing Committee studying the report and I have
  now been appointed to the Rail Safety advisory
  committee which will formulate the implementation
  of the review, as well.
• We also have Teamsters appointed to each of the
  five (5) working committees dealing with the
  recommendations.
• This will mean that not only have we finally
  brokered labour union involvement in rail safety
  reform at a parliamentary level, we have insured
  that the largest Union presence will be
• TEAMSTERS

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• It was public outcry over the high profile train
  accidents causing loss of life and eco damage
  which brought about the Railway Safety Act
  Review.
• The public seems to want to be involved and so we
  have put into place a strategic plan to raise
  public awareness around the scope and gravity of
  railway safety dangers in Canada by launching a
  national media debate.
• This began on April 23rd when the Globe Mail,
  Canadas largest national paper published an
  opinion piece from the TCRC MWED centering on
  railway fatalities, train accidents and the need
  for enforcement of regulations and the
  involvement of all stakeholders to insure that
  Canadas railways are safe.

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• We have begun working with, and in some cases
  putting pressure on, MPs, Transport Canada and
  other legislative and regulatory stakeholders to
  facilitate action necessary to create a safe
  national railway system, on an ongoing basis
  which would include proactive as well as reactive
  elements.
• We want the TCRC MWED and Teamsters Canada to be
  seen as solution-oriented agents of change,
  advocating public safety and proposing viable
  solutions on behalf of all Canadians. We want to
  be known as the Union that will protect all
  workers and the public alike.
• We want to put the railroads and their lobby
  group off balance make them explain to Canadians
  why they are putting profits ahead of safety and
  force this issue into the public forum, where the
  rights, the safety and the livelihood of our
  membership can be protected.

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• But this is not simply a Canadian problem. It is
  an International problem, dealing with
  International rail companies and we need
  International solutions.
• This is a battle that we cant afford to lose.
• Together United I am confident that we wont.

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