CN workers are unhappy with their working conditions during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
According to a release from Teamsters Canada Rail Conference (TCRC), union officials are being "overwhelmed" with complaints from their members that adequate precautions are not being taken to protect workers from the spread of COVID-19.
The union said it is "deeply concerned for the health, safety and well-being of front-line workers" and "action must be taken now".
TCRC said the four areas of concern are workstations like desks, chairs and computers, locomotives, rest facilities (bunk houses) and transportation used to move train crews from one location to another.聽
The union claimed CN is asking employees to sanitize a locomotive using two alcohol-infused 'wet naps', the size of a moist towelette you would find at a fast food restaurant.
鈥淲hat CN is suggesting would be the equivalent of cleaning your car with a Q-tip,鈥� said the president of the TCRC, Lyndon Isaak.聽
TCRC said many bunkhouses are being used to capacity, and some of these facilities contain communal kitchens, washrooms and common rooms making social distancing almost impossible.
"While other rail carriers in Canada have committed to work with the union by ensuring sanitation supplies are available, vastly reducing bunkhouse occupancy and the posting of Health Canada guidelines, CN continues to operate as though it鈥檚 business as usual," said the release.
Isaak explained: 鈥淭he perception of the TCRC and its members is that CN鈥檚 focus is train delay and profits over the health and safety of workers.
鈥淐N risks losing members of its workforce if they don鈥檛 change their priorities immediately.鈥�
