Injured workers had complained about long commutes before the BC bus crash: union
PRINCE GEORGE, BC — The union representing housekeepers at a pipeline camp involved in a bus crash near Prince George, BC, says on Friday they are awaiting a decision on complaints about the long drive to get to work.
Unite Here Local 40 spokesperson Michelle Travis said Monday that Horizon North, which manages the lodge as part of the Coastal GasLink pipeline project, decided in March to move housekeepers from on-site to Prince George to make way for pipeline workers.
That meant a four-hour round trip every workday, which the union says goes against a collective agreement requirement that they be housed on site.
Travis said most of the people on the bus were women and many were immigrants from Somalia and Ethiopia.
“Our concern was that to make more room for the pipeline workers, they had to move someone,” she said.
“So, Horizon North chose to move these workers two hours away…probably the lowest paid workers in the campground and that’s who they chose to move to another location.”
The arbitration of the complaint was completed the day before the crash, Travis said.
Thirty people were on the bus that drove off a forest service road on Friday. Police at the time said the cause of the crash was still unclear, but early morning rain on the gravel road made conditions “quite bad”.
Travis said the 18 injured are recovering from injuries, including concussions and broken bones.
“I also think a lot of them are really repeating what happened over and over,” she said.
“Needless to say, it was traumatic, and there was one person who thought it would be the end for them.”
The union calls on the company to provide housing for the employees on site again.
“Honestly, we’re surprised this hasn’t happened sooner because the condition of those roads when it rains is clearly not safe,” Travis said.
“So we really hope that the company will work to ensure that (employees’) safety is not compromised going forward.”
Horizon North did not immediately respond to a request for comment, but said in a statement last week that it was conducting “a full investigation to determine the cause of the incident”.
“Our immediate priority is the safety and well-being of our employees and ensuring they receive the medical care and support they need,” the statement said.
“We are in the process of gathering additional information and will communicate with all relevant stakeholder groups as the situation develops.”
This report from The Canadian Press was first published on June 19, 2023.
