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Vol. 79/No. 38      October 26, 2015

 
Solidarity rally in Chicago
backs Quebec safety fight
 
BY DAN FEIN  
CHICAGO — Some 20 people representing more than a dozen environmental, political and labor groups gathered here Oct. 12 near the office of the Consulate General of Canada in solidarity with the people of Lac-Mégantic, Quebec, who protested the day before demanding all rail transport of dangerous cargo there be stopped until rotted and dilapidated tracks through the area are repaired.

They also joined the Lac-Mégantic marchers in demanding a halt to efforts of the Canadian government to frame up rail workers Tom Harding and Richard Labrie, scapegoating them for the train derailments and explosion in Lac-Mégantic in July 2013 that killed 47 people. Both are members of Local 1976 of the United Steelworkers union, which has been collecting funds for their defense.

“The coalition of groups endorsing this action are determined to send the message that we stand with the railroad workers in their efforts to keep our communities safe from the inherent dangers of these volatile oil trains,” the groups’ flyer calling the action said. “The railroad and oil corporations involved in the tragedy of July 6th, 2013, in Lac-Mégantic are the principal offenders.”

Lora Chamberlain, leader of Chicagoland Oil by Rail, chaired the rally and led chants of “Free Tom Harding!”

“The companies need to de-gasify the oil to make it less volatile like they do in Texas,” she said.

“Harding warned of smoke coming from the engine before he left the train. His warning was ignored,” said Vince Hardt, speaking for Chicagoland Oil by Rail. “Harding offered to return to the train when the fire broke out on the engine. They told him ‘no.’”

The groups presented a letter to Consul-General Roy Norton urging the government to reconsider its charges against Harding, train controller Richard Labrie and Jean Demaître, a company manager.

“We do not believe that the three lowest-level railway employees in the chain, including the engineer who offered to help and who could potentially have prevented the disaster, should be made scapegoats in this tragedy,” the letter said.

“Disasters like Lac-Mégantic will happen again,” said Mark Burrows, an engineer on the Canadian Pacific, speaking for Railroad Workers United, “until the rail unions are strong enough to exercise control over safety on the job, backed by support from a broader movement for rail safety.”
 
 
Related articles:
Lac-Mégantic action demands rail safety, condemns frame-up
Autoworkers’ rejection of Fiat two-tier deal forces new offer
On the Picket Line
Farmworkers: We get respect, dignity with the union
 
 
 
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