The Right To Operate a Clean Energy Vehicle Resolution
WHEREAS…
It is no longer socially accepted or legal to smoke cigarettes in a work environment due to the harmful health effects of secondhand smoke.
AND WHEREAS…
The emissions from fossil fuel powered vehicles and the fuel that power them are known to be harmful to human health and can lead to serious illness or death.
AND WHEREAS …
Paramedics are exposed to the toxic fuel and emissions from fossil fuel powered vehicles in carrying out their daily duties. ( Source: American Cancer Society - Benzene and Cancer Risk, https://www.cancer.org/cancer/cancer-causes/benzene.html; Health Canada (April 2011) - It’s Your Health, http://publications.gc.ca/collections/collection_2011/sc-hc/H13-7-95-2011-eng.pdf )
AND WHEREAS…
Emissions from fossil fuel powered vehicles also exasperate the climate crisis, which the APBC has recognized will have devastating effects on future generations, including our members’ children’s generation, more so than our own.
AND WHEREAS…
Many parents value the health and well being of their children more so than their own.
AND WHEREAS…
Establishing a right to operate a clean energy vehicle could be a significant boon for the climate crisis.
AND WHEREAS…
It is likely that some of our members will desire to operate a clean energy vehicle, even if it is smaller, while others will prefer to use a larger fossil fuel powered vehicle.
LET IT BE RESOLVED THAT…
The APBC will recognize our members' right to operate a clean energy vehicle (RTOCEV). In doing so the APBC will specifically:
1. Release a public statement expressing this right.
2. Will allow the APBC Environment and Climate Change Committee to solicit other unions, labour organizations, and professional organizations, to join an alliance of organizations who similarly recognize a worker’s RTOCEV.
3. If the majority of regular members across all platoons for a specific operational unit would prefer to operate a clean energy vehicle over a fossil fuel powered vehicle, and provide a statement stating as such signed by all members of this majority group, the union will advance an official notice to management that it is the union's opinion this vehicle should be switched to the most appropriate CEV as soon as possible.
4. If a unit is operated primarily by on-call members attached to a specific station, and the majority of these members would prefer to operate a clean energy vehicle over a fossil fuel powered vehicle, and provide a statement stating as such signed by all members of this the majority group, the union will advance an official notice to management that it is the union's opinion this vehicle should be switched to the most appropriate CEV as soon as possible.
