Manitoba Federation of Labour President Kevin Rebeck says Winnipeg mayoralty candidate Gord Steeves is making a mistake to propose undermining important safety measures put in place by the Selinger government to reduce danger for road construction workers.

His campaign promise to adopt a two-tiered fine system that would see higher penalties imposed only when workers are present in a road construction zone puts the onus on drivers to determine what a safe speed to drive at is.  This subjective test means some will drive at a speed that is hazardous to the road workers and some will not.

Workers are sometimes not immediately visible to drivers when entering a construction zone. That’s why it’s important to have consistent speed limit signage that applies to all drivers and must be followed in construction zones at all times.

Employers and workers agree that the “when workers present” rule was creating confusion among drivers and ultimately putting workers at risk.  That’s why it is no longer used.

When it comes to clear signage, that’s what workers have always asked for.  Clear signs that spell-out what the reduced speed limit is, when it begins, and when it ends.

Rebeck said, “Relying on individuals to determine what is safe and what is dangerous is what has resulted in too many deaths and too many injuries among road construction workers.  Reducing and eliminating this carnage is why the Selinger Government took meaningful action in the first place.

“Undermining these measures to gain a few votes from lead-footed, impatient drivers at the cost of worker safety is not right.  Haven’t we had enough funerals and lifelong disabilities among workers?

“I can’t understand it when Steeves says ‘Let’s remember the goal is safety, not revenue’ when he’s talking about photo-radar and then proposes to make conditions more dangerous for road construction workers.  I guess avoiding speeding fines is more important than the safety of workers.”

For more information call John Doyle at 204-782-8465