(The following article by Kristen Vernon was posted on the Edmonton Sun website on August 24.)
EDMONTON, Alberta — The union representing front-line CN workers wants a federal public inquiry into the rail company’s practices.
Citing five derailments across Canada this month alone, cutbacks and downsizing since CN was privatized 10 years ago, as well as rising safety concerns, the United Steelworkers’ national director yesterday demanded a public inquiry.
“We really should be concerned about what’s happening in this industry,” said Ken Neumann.
On Aug. 3, a CN train derailed west of Wabamun, 65 km west of Edmonton, dumping more than 700,000 litres of bunker C fuel and a toxic wood preservative along the shore and into the lake.
The rail company’s fifth derailment this month came last Friday when four cars jumped the track near Prince George, B.C., 741 km west of Edmonton.
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In the derailment along Lake Wabamun, CN was slow to release information about the spill of the toxic wood preservative.
Neumann said union local 2004 members who were working at the site of the Wabamun train derailment had short-term breathing problems and irritation after being exposed to the spilled oils.
“If these derailments continue, we may not be so lucky in the future,” he said.
A CN spokesman said there is no need for a public inquiry.
Jim Feeny said current government investigations, with which the railroad is co-operating fully, will be perfectly effective in determining what, if any, improvements can be made.
Feeny also said staff cutbacks don’t translate into poorer safety.
“We’ve had a spate of very public accidents in the last few weeks,” he said. “But as we continue to invest and continue to employ the newest technology, the result over time is a safer railroad.”