Union protests Kits Coast Guard closure at Tory convention
Posted October 13, 2012 11:39 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
RICHMOND (NEWS1130) – People in support of saving the Kitsilano Coast Guard station aim to get the attention of Conservative MPs.
Union members are rallying and handing out leaflets that say “Keep It Open!” at the Federal Conservative MP Convention in Richmond Saturday.
Dave Clark with the Union of Canadian Transportation Employees (http://www.ucte.com/) says politicians haven’t done their research.
“We know for a fact they’ve never actually come out [to the station]. They’ve made decisions but they’ve never actually come out to the base to see what the people do,” Clark notes. “When we hear their comments on why the closure is, there are mistakes riddled through it.”
He adds closing the station down is unsafe for workers and British Columbians.
“[MPs] don’t actually know what they are cutting. It’s important for us to actually get in their face and demand that they actually go down to these places that they’re cutting and see it. That’s what they’re voted in for — to do the best for Canadians.”
The station will be closing next year due to budget cuts out of Ottawa.
