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Teamsters Union reports on Queen’s Park demonstration
03-02-2009
22 :41 ESTThe Teamsters Union held a press conference today to report on the truck drivers’ demonstration that took place at Queen’s Park in Toronto. The purpose of the gathering was to protest against Law 41 which sets a 105-kph speed limit for trucks through the use of speed limiters.
Teamsters Canada, which represents the interests of the majority of workers in the trucking industry, is not opposed to the idea of speed limits. Nevertheless, as Robert Bouvier, the union’s president, noted, “once again, truck drivers are paying the price for governmental regulation.”
“Truck drivers will have to have a speed limiter installed and pay for it,” he added. "They are required to deliver merchandise quickly and efficiently, but at the same time, an unsafe speed limit is being imposed on them."
The explosion of fuel prices in 2008 is doubtless the main reason that trucking companies pressed the government to adopt the law.
“I understand the economic considerations because I drove a truck for more than 25 years,” explained Robert McAulay, Teamsters Canada’s Freight and Tank Haul Division Director. “But this law makes Ontario truck drivers less competitive than drivers from other provinces, and even those from the United States."
McAulay notes that concern for the safety of highway users seems to have been quickly eliminated from the debate surrounding speed limiters.
“Truck drivers’ ability to drive faster than 105 kph can at times be a matter of life or death,” Robert McAulay explained. “Sometimes truck drivers must accelerate to correct a truck’s path. This will no longer be possible.”
The Teamsters Union is instead proposing that the idea of harmonizing speed limits across Canada and possibly across all of North America be explored.
“This must be done with consideration for the safety of truck drivers and highway users alike," McAulay concluded.
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.
Information:
Stéphane Lacroix, director of communications for Teamsters Canada – 514-609-5101
Teamsters Canada, which represents the interests of the majority of workers in the trucking industry, is not opposed to the idea of speed limits. Nevertheless, as Robert Bouvier, the union’s president, noted, “once again, truck drivers are paying the price for governmental regulation.”
“Truck drivers will have to have a speed limiter installed and pay for it,” he added. "They are required to deliver merchandise quickly and efficiently, but at the same time, an unsafe speed limit is being imposed on them."
The explosion of fuel prices in 2008 is doubtless the main reason that trucking companies pressed the government to adopt the law.
“I understand the economic considerations because I drove a truck for more than 25 years,” explained Robert McAulay, Teamsters Canada’s Freight and Tank Haul Division Director. “But this law makes Ontario truck drivers less competitive than drivers from other provinces, and even those from the United States."
McAulay notes that concern for the safety of highway users seems to have been quickly eliminated from the debate surrounding speed limiters.
“Truck drivers’ ability to drive faster than 105 kph can at times be a matter of life or death,” Robert McAulay explained. “Sometimes truck drivers must accelerate to correct a truck’s path. This will no longer be possible.”
The Teamsters Union is instead proposing that the idea of harmonizing speed limits across Canada and possibly across all of North America be explored.
“This must be done with consideration for the safety of truck drivers and highway users alike," McAulay concluded.
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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Information:
Stéphane Lacroix, director of communications for Teamsters Canada – 514-609-5101
