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Support Our Canadian Union Brothers

Capitalist bosses standing on the shoulders of workers and pushing them into the quicksand of profits is just greed at the expense of the workers, which is just what is happening at to train engineer Tom Harding and train controller Richard Labrie in Canada. Both are union members of the United Steelworkers. They are being framed by their bosses in Ottawa for following orders, and when those orders resulted in a derailment, dumping 1.5 million gallons of crude oil, causing an explosion and fire that destroyed the town of Sherbrooke, Canada. Many in this area consider Harding a hero for risking his life to aid firefighters in moving a number of unexploded tankers thereby limiting the devastation. Transport Canada’s Minister of Transportation Denis Lebel ruled in 2012 that a train crew could be cut to just one engineer to increase profits while ignoring health and safety rules. Harding wanted to engage the breaks on each of the cars, he was overruled and told to engage them on the locomotive, but the air leaked out and there were no brakes to prevent the wreckage that ensued. Now the two men are facing 47 counts of criminal negligence causing death and life in prison. If you’re unable to attend the trial in Sherbrooke, Canada, you can show your solidarity by sending a message of support to Harding and Lebrie to USW Local 1976/Section locale 1976, 2360 De Lasalle, Suite 202, Montreal, OC Canada H1V 2L1, with copies to Thomas Walsh, Attorney, 165 Rue Wellington, N., Suite 310, Sherbrooke, QC Canada J1H 5B9 or email him at: thomaspwalsh@hotmail.com.
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