NB Power said Friday it feels “deeply troubled” by a video posted to social media that shows one of its trucks driving into a federal worker.
The incident took place Friday morning just outside 5th Canadian Division Support Base Gagetown in Oromocto, N.B., where members of the Public Service Alliance of Canada have picketed over the last week.
The video shows the driver of the NB Power truck honking at strikers. One striker was then seen standing in front of the truck, but the driver continued to move forward, pinning the striker against the vehicle’s front grill.
This happened near #CFBGagetown today during the #PSACStrike2023 in #oromocto #NewBrunswick.@NB_Power recently release a statement regarding the events that transpired this morning.@CAN_INCIDENTS @TrafficNB pic.twitter.com/SYJfUmaJNZ
— Chubbs (@XxmotegixX) April 28, 2023
In a statement released late Friday afternoon, NB Power called the behaviour “truly unacceptable” and said it will not be tolerated.
“We are deeply troubled by the images that have appeared on social media showing an NB Power vehicle pushing a person involved in the Public Service Alliance of Canada strike in Oromocto today,” the company said Friday.
“No NB Power employees were involved in this incident, but an NB Power vehicle was involved and therefore our reputation is at risk.”
NB Power launched an internal investigation and found three people — one instructor and two students of a lineman training program — were inside the truck when the incident occurred.
Officials said the instructor was not an NB Power employee, but rather one from a private training company. It has since terminated the instructor’s involvement with NB Power.
“All of our contractors are expected to uphold the same safety standards as NB Power,” the company said in Friday’s statement.
“We will continue to do our part to ensure the well-being of our employees and the community members we serve.”
Statement Regarding Oromocto Incident: https://t.co/TvFE9HH2Oi.
— NB Power (@NB_Power) April 29, 2023