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Canada
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 Posted - 10/11/2006 : 2:22:26 PM
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'Day of Remembrance' Honors Workers Injured or Killed on Job, Calls for Improved Safety Standards
WASHINGTON, Oct. 11 /PRNewswire/ -- School bus workers from across the United States will honor coworkers injured or lost on the job during a "Day of Remembrance" as part of the International Transport Workers' Federation's annual Transport Week of Action on Thursday, October 12.
The Transport Week of Action consists of a series of global awareness campaigns and events held to show support for drivers around the world. As part of the series of events, School Bus Workers United, a national organization of school bus drivers, attendants and mechanics, has asked that all school bus workers hold a moment of silence to honor coworkers who have lost their lives due to unsafe working conditions. Bus workers will be wearing the School Bus Workers United sticker to show their support for improved safety standards in the school bus industry.
The Day of Remembrance will honor two First Student mechanics, one injured and one killed, in Boston-area bus yards. A First Student mechanic died March 9 from inhaling high levels of carbon monoxide in a poorly ventilated area of the Boston bus yard where he worked. Just one month later, on April 18, another mechanic was injured at a separate First Student Boston yard where malfunctioning safety devices caused him to be struck by a 10-ton air jack used to lift buses.
School Bus Workers United has sent a letter to First Student President Carey Paster and FirstGroup (First Student parent company) CEO Moir Lockhead, calling on the school bus company to investigate worker deaths or injuries caused by unsafe working conditions, and to correct any safety violations found.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration determined First Student didn't perform annual inspections that could have identified safety problems. OSHA recently cited First Student for nine violations of workplace safety standards and has called for $95,000 in fines.
School Bus Workers United is a national organization of school bus employees who have formed or are working to form a union with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters or the Service Employees International Union, both Change to Win affiliate unions. School Bus Workers United is one of hundreds of groups participating in Transport Week of Action events in Europe, Africa, Asia and the Americas.
press release International Brotherhood of Teamsters |
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SB Workers Take Part in Global Week of Action
