Hello. My name is Alex Hanson and I am a workers representative (United Steelworkers Local 9346 President) for the Unionized Members at Elkview Operations Teck. I have spoken with Teck reps from Elkview and there are apparently 30 workers from dayshift trapped at work at Elkview. Teck reps say there is food on the way from A&W to feed those workers trapped. If conditions persist, as I think we all expect them to, then they will have to figure out food for those 30 again + those who managed to make it in for night shift. I do not have those numbers to report now. I have also left a message with Human Resources staff at Elkview Operations that I do not think that workers, if they managed to operate heavy equipment on site in these conditions, should have to work 4 hours of forced overtime after a night shift. Extreme fatigue and workers worrying about their situation is enough stress. Let alone wondering where your next meal is coming from... I have also spoken directly with the Steelworker President from Coal Mountain Teck Operations. He is in Vancouver at the moment but is aware that there is a food shortage and has been in contact with Human Resources Teck Coal Mountain Ops. We as Steelworkers agree there is a major weather event happening which families, workers, the United Steelworkers, nor even Teck can do anything about. Out of concern for safety, please do not drive on the roads. Although there is some degree of suffering via hunger pains, and perhaps in some instances the work environment may have been ill prepared to deal with this situation, we cannot alleviate that suffering without major risk of compounding the unfortunate situation with a tragedy. Hopefully, there is enough compassion among those workers sharing meals tonight, that those with medical conditions requiring their blood sugar be stable be fed first, that these type of uncontrollable events do no long term harm to anyone I have no interest in seeing anyone take unnecessary risks for very little gain at this point. Please stay at home. We will continue to monitor the situation, and provide assistance with food and travel options once day breaks and it is safer for us to travel, and personally deal with the situation. Thanks for reading. Alex Hanson
Posted on: Sat, 29 Nov 2014 04:48:10 +0000