The union representing housekeepers at a pipeline camp who were involved in a bus crash near Prince George, B.C., on Friday says theyB次元官网网址檙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.

B次元官网网址淥ur concern was that in order to make more room for the pipeline workers, they needed to move somebody out,B次元官网网址� she said.

B次元官网网址淪o, Horizon North chose to move these workers two hours away B次元官网网址� probably the lowest paid workers on the camp site and thatB次元官网网址檚 who they chose to move off-site.B次元官网网址�

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 B次元官网网址渜uite poor.B次元官网网址�

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

B次元官网网址淚 think also for many of them, theyB次元官网网址檙e really replaying what happened over and over again,B次元官网网址� she said.

B次元官网网址淣eedless to say, it was traumatic, and there was one person who thought it was going to be the end for them.B次元官网网址�

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

B次元官网网址淔rankly, weB次元官网网址檙e surprised this hasnB次元官网网址檛 happened sooner because the condition of those roads when itB次元官网网址檚 raining is not safe, clearly,B次元官网网址� Travis said.

B次元官网网址漇o, we really hope the company will work to ensure that (workersB次元官网网址�) safety is not put at risk going forward.B次元官网网址�

Horizon North did not immediately respond to a request for comment but said in a statement last week that it was B次元官网网址渃onducting a full investigation to determine the cause of the incident.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淥ur immediate priority is the safety and well-being of our employees and ensuring they receive the medical attention and support they need,B次元官网网址� the statement says.

B次元官网网址淲e are in the process of gathering additional information and will communicate with all relevant stakeholder groups as the situation develops.B次元官网网址�

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