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Teamsters Release Recording of CN Ordering Fatigued Conductor to Work

Charlemagne

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Teamsters Release Recording of CN Ordering Fatigued Conductor to Work

By

Christopher Monette
-
November 25, 2019

Montréal, November 25, 2019 – Teamsters Canada today released a recording of a CN supervisor, a chief rail traffic controller (RTC), ordering a fatigued conductor to continue working for several hours.

The chief RTC ignored pleas from the conductor, a railroader with over 30 years experience, that he and the locomotive engineer are too fatigued and are unfit to operate a train. The workers had notified CN hours earlier of their need to be relieved by another crew and to rest. The conductor ultimately did not move the train and was suspended for 14 days without pay as a result.

Click here to listen to the full recording (7 minutes 37 seconds).
http://teamsterscanada.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/2018-Oct-19-exhausted-worker.mp3

“This recording illustrates CN’s blatant disregard for the health and safety of our members and the public,” said the president of Teamsters Canada, François Laporte. “This is why we are on strike against CN. This happens every day across the rail industry, and CN regularly intimidates workers who raise the issue of fatigue with the threat of discipline.”

The incident occurred on October 19, 2018 near Pickering, Ontario. CN would have wanted the fatigued train crew to continue working for several hours, operating a locomotive uphill through residential areas east of Toronto.

The conductor is heard asking the chief RTC to contact Transport Canada, which was never done to the union’s knowledge. The chief RTC simply said that “rest is not a regulatory or safety issue.”

“We’ve lost nine of our members in the rail industry over the past 24 months, including three from the group currently on strike at CN,” added Laporte. “The rail industry is in crisis, and CN need to work with the Teamsters to address this.”

CN Attempting to Prolong Labour Dispute, say Teamsters

Negotiations between the Teamsters and CN have been ongoing over the weekend. The company is refusing to budge on the key health and safety issues that the union has identified.

“Instead of bargaining in good faith, CN is obviously trying to prolong this labour dispute, add fuel to the fire and turn the public against workers who just want a safe work environment,” said Laporte.

Teamsters want CN to make it easier for rail workers to be rested, without fear of discipline. The union also wants the company to adjust some of its operating practices in the interest of safety.

http://teamsterscanada.org/en/blog/2019/11/25/teamsters-release-recording-of-cn-ordering-fatigued-conductor-to-work/
 

james t kirk

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Aug 17, 2001
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I read the train driver was whining because he had been working 10 hours.

Big fucking deal. 10 hours is a short day for me.

Never mind the fact of what train drivers for CN are paid.
 

sp free

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May 31, 2003
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Generally I have the same attitude towards most things, but these guys are in control of very dangerous equipment that basically will destroy anything it hits instantly.

If he felt it was unsafe to operate the train, then I would support his decision not to. 10 hours isn’t 16, but it also isn’t 4 either.

Think about it this way, would you want to get on an airplane with a fatigued flight crew?
 

explorerzip

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Jul 27, 2006
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Generally I have the same attitude towards most things, but these guys are in control of very dangerous equipment that basically will destroy anything it hits instantly.

If he felt it was unsafe to operate the train, then I would support his decision not to. 10 hours isn’t 16, but it also isn’t 4 either.

Think about it this way, would you want to get on an airplane with a fatigued flight crew?
Exactly. We cannot compare operating a plane, train, truck, etc to another job based solely on hours. The consequences of being fatigued while operating a vehicle are vastly different than any other job.
 

nottyboi

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May 14, 2008
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I read the train driver was whining because he had been working 10 hours.

Big fucking deal. 10 hours is a short day for me.

Never mind the fact of what train drivers for CN are paid.
How many people die if you fuck up? How do you know what he did the days before, or if he was on a swing shift, or ill?
 

james t kirk

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Aug 17, 2001
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How many people die if you fuck up? How do you know what he did the days before, or if he was on a swing shift, or ill?
To answer your question, if I "fuck up" in my job, it is 100 percent guaranteed that people will die.

Number of people who would die would vary based on circumstances, but could be as high as several hundred.

It would seem to me that the CN would have a policy with respect to the number of hours that a train driver can operate a locomotive and that policy would have been accepted by the union and by Transport Canada.

In addition the guy was benched 2 weeks, presumably the union would have fought it tooth and nail if they thought it was unjustified. No mention if the union did that or not.
 

sp free

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May 31, 2003
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The guy asked his supervisor to contact transport Canada and he refused. What else is he supposed to do?

I think it takes tremendous courage to stand up to management this way.
 
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