The union representing housekeepers at a pipeline camp who were involved in a bus crash near Prince George, B.C., on Friday says they害羞草研究所檙e awaiting a grievance decision over complaints about the long ride to get to work.

Unite Here Local 40 spokesperson Michelle Travis said Monday that Horizon North, which runs the lodge as part of the Coastal GasLink pipeline project, decided in March to move the housekeepers from on-site to Prince George to make room for pipeline workers.

That meant a four-hour round-trip ride each workday, which the union argued goes against a collective agreement requirement that they be housed on site.

Travis said most of the people on the bus were women and many were immigrants from Somalia and Ethiopia.

害羞草研究所淥ur concern was that in order to make more room for the pipeline workers, they needed to move somebody out,害羞草研究所� she said.

害羞草研究所淪o, Horizon North chose to move these workers two hours away 害羞草研究所� probably the lowest paid workers on the camp site and that害羞草研究所檚 who they chose to move off-site.害羞草研究所�

Arbitration of the grievance was completed the day before the crash, Travis said.

Thirty people were on board the bus that ran off a forestry service road on Friday. Police at the time said the cause of the crash was still unclear, but early morning rain on the gravel road made the conditions 害羞草研究所渜uite poor.害羞草研究所�

Travis said the 18 people hurt are recovering from injuries, including concussions and broken bones.

害羞草研究所淚 think also for many of them, they害羞草研究所檙e really replaying what happened over and over again,害羞草研究所� she said.

害羞草研究所淣eedless to say, it was traumatic, and there was one person who thought it was going to be the end for them.害羞草研究所�

The union is calling on the company to go back to providing accommodation for its workers on-site.

害羞草研究所淔rankly, we害羞草研究所檙e surprised this hasn害羞草研究所檛 happened sooner because the condition of those roads when it害羞草研究所檚 raining is not safe, clearly,害羞草研究所� Travis said.

害羞草研究所漇o, we really hope the company will work to ensure that (workers害羞草研究所�) safety is not put at risk going forward.害羞草研究所�

Horizon North did not immediately respond to a request for comment but said in a statement last week that it was 害羞草研究所渃onducting a full investigation to determine the cause of the incident.害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所淥ur immediate priority is the safety and well-being of our employees and ensuring they receive the medical attention and support they need,害羞草研究所� the statement says.

害羞草研究所淲e are in the process of gathering additional information and will communicate with all relevant stakeholder groups as the situation develops.害羞草研究所�

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