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B.C. Federation of Labour calls on government to review use of 15-passenger “death traps”
January 15, 2008
B.C. Federation of Labour calls on government to review use of 15-passenger "death traps" in all areas, including the transportation of farmworkers
Vancouver-Following the deaths of eight people in New Brunswick in a fifteen-passenger van, the B.C. Federation of Labour is calling on the provincial government to act immediately to review the use of these vans in British Columbia. A similar fifteen-passenger vehicle was involved in a crash last March which killed three farmworkers and injured many others. At the time, the van was overloaded making it a prime candidate for accidents.
Following the tragic crash last March, the Federation called on the government to set up an Inter-Agency Farmworker Committee and to review the stability of these vans in order to make recommendations to improve stability and safety.
"This recent accident in New Brunswick only highlights the well-known problems associated with these vans and yet no action has been taken in British Columbia to deal with the real dangers these vans pose," Federation President, Jim Sinclair charged. "Why are they ignoring our recommendation when the lives of people are at stake?"
Recent media reports indicate that the vans are most dangerous when full or overloaded. In addition to being banned or restricted in some provinces and US states, the vans are also subject to a number of lawsuits. Here in British Columbia, there are no restrictions either in the transportation of workers or students.
"Something should be done immediately to review the situation and take action," Sinclair said. "If these vans are unsafe and there is a growing body of evidence to suggest this, then they should be banned from use in transporting students and workers. If they aren't safe for kids, they sure aren't safe for their mothers and fathers."
In a letter to Labour Minister Olga Ilich and Transportation Minister Kevin Falcon, the Federation asks for the government to take immediate action and review all the uses of these vans in British Columbia.
"They've had our recommendations for nearly a year and no action has been taken on this issue at all," Sinclair stated. "This is a matter of life and death and ignoring the dangers is inexcusable."
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For more information contact: Jessie Uppal 604-430-1421 or 604-220-0739.
