THUNDER BAY – With OPSEU, the union representing TSSA inspectors, having made the decision to commence a strike starting July 21, many in Thunder Bay were concerned with how this would affect the annual CLE.
Jim Mills, owner of Select Shows, says that his rides are already up to TSSA standards so the strike shouldn’t affect his company from bringing its rides to Thunder Bay.
“We have our annual inspection that has been done prior to us coming to Thunder Bay in recent weeks, and everything came out clean bill of health for those rides and everything,” he said. “And we’ve been assured by TSSA that if required, there will be stand-in inspectors in Thunder Bay if required."
Stephanie Coyne, EDAD inspector with TSSA who is taking part of the strike, says that one of her main concerns is that there won’t be operation inspections after the rides are broken down, transported, and rebuilt at new locations like the CLE grounds.
“My second concern is when we did that periodic some time ago, chances are there could have been a series of orders, or deficiencies we call them. Who’s following up on these deficiencies? Who’s making sure that what we put on that report has been completed before public use,” she said.
“There’s nobody, the amusement ride operators, they could have a fleet of 20 devices, but we only inspected, say, half of them, 10 devices, who’s going around and doing audits to make sure that only the 10 of those devices are being used, right? Operators know we’re not out there doing audits and inspections.”
Alexandra Campbell, spokesperson for the TSSA, says that operational inspections are for spot checks and not required to ensure the safety of rides.
“Good organizations that have TSSA permits, that have qualified staff that do daily safety checks, have their annual TSSA inspection. So operational inspections are just spot checks that don’t happen at any set frequency or set locations,” she said.
“So, I think what you’re hearing is them suggesting something that is not standard and, unfortunately, maybe trying to bring some attention to the strike.”
Both OPSEU and the TSSA claim that the other party was unwilling to negotiate and blame each other for the strike.
At this time the CLE will go ahead as planned but OPSEU says that they will be picketing the fair and invite people to learn more about the strike.
Campbell says that those who are concerned about the safety of rides can ask the ride operators about their inspections and certificates or call the TSSA if they are concerned about any ride in particular.
