The Teamsters Canada Rail
Conference mourns for the loss of a 42-year old member in Hamilton…
Laval, January 15, 2010 – 42-year-old Brother Michael Chiarelli of
Hamilton was fatally injured while switching at a Ford Motor Company
plant in Oakville on Monday January 11, around 5:00 p.m.
Brother Chiarelli, a member of Teamsters Canada Rail Conference (TCRC)
Division 70 (Toronto), is married with three children and employed
as a Conductor by the Canadian National Railway for 20 years. He has
always been well respected by his co–workers.
Transport Canada is currently investigating, and TCRC Division 70
representatives have met with CN officials as well as the other crew
members who were not physically injured in the incident. Also,
crisis counselors have met with crew members and other workers.
“Our collective thoughts, prayers and support are with them during
this difficult time,” said Daniel J. Shewchuk, TCRC president. “We
all mourn for the loss of our union Brother and express our deepest
and sincerest condolences to his family who have lost a husband,
father, brother and son.”
Railroad workers are at risk to the inherent dangers of switching
operations, particularly within a plant where clearances are
significantly reduced. “This fatality reminds us once again of the
importance of always emphasizing safety, and worker safety must be
the priority in all work environments,” added Shewchuk.
“Productivity must never supplant safety as the primary focus within
an industrial setting.”
The Teamsters Union represents 125,000 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.
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