Montréal, QC – All too often Rudolph isn’t the only one with a ‘Red Nose’ during the Christmas season – it’s a sign that many individuals have consumed too much alcohol and they shouldn’t be operating a motor vehicle. A campaign has developed in the city of Montréal to assist drivers who have had one too many at the local bar or their office Christmas party. It’s called “Operation Nez Rouge” or “Red Nose” and one of the six major sponsors is IAM Local Lodge 712. “We decided this year to get involved on a larger scale so that people would see the Machinists union more visible in the community,” explains LL 712 President David Chartrand.
In a media blitz in late November, “Red Nose” coupon books were distributed to neighbourhood dépanneurs – convenience stores which also sell beer and wine – in greater Montréal and nearby Laurentian region. Included in this book of coupons is a phone number which people can call to request a “Red Nose’ ride home after ‘a night on the town’. Teams of three volunteers – driver, navigator and escort driver - are dispatched from Olympic Stadium in one vehicle to pick up the client at the given address. Two of the volunteers – the volunteer driver and navigator - drive the client home in his or her vehicle and the escort driver follows in second vehicle to pick up the rest of the team once the client is safely home.
“This is very good cause because it makes the roads safer,” says Chartrand. “Everyone who participates in the campaign wears a red vest and the IAM logo, our Local Lodge logo and phone number is on the back of every vest. With 500 vests distributed in Montréal and 150 in the Laurentian Region the Machinists are very noticeable when volunteers arrive to pick up a client.” Twenty Local Lodge 712 members have volunteered for “Red Nose” duty starting on December 16th which is the busiest evening for office Christmas parties.
Service to our members and service to the community – that’s the IAM philosophy.
Happy Holidays!
