Achi news desk-
The United Steelworkers union is calling for changes in the signage industry, saying it doesn’t want to see any more road signalers injured or killed on the job.
It says it wants to improve safety, training and information and create a new whistle-blowing hotline.
The road sign industry is currently managed by a joint employer-employee committee, following a decree by the Quebec government.
The steel workers union, known as Métallos, is affiliated with the Fédération des Travailleurs et Travaileuses du Québec (FTQ).
It calls on the group to better monitor the industry, ensure certification of road sign agencies, verify equipment compliance, inspect sign works to ensure compliance and implement comprehensive training.
The union says the Commission for Standards, Equality, Health and Safety at Work (CNESST) recorded 215 work-related injuries for road clerks in 2022 alone.
“We hope that the government will listen to our demands to regulate the situation at the construction sites and ensure the safety of our workers. It cannot continue like this,” said Nathalie Peron, president of the local branch of the steel workers’ union. “Everything needs to be tightened in terms of safety, approvals [and there must be] More presence during road work.”
— This Canadian Press report was first published in French on April 1, 2024.
