April 27, 2017 at 1:00 PM
On April 28th, most of us will be at our place of
employment, going about our day and focusing on the tasks which make up our
regular work day. For many of us this will be an ordinary day just any other
filled with routines, responsibilities and enjoyment. But for others, it may not
be so ordinary. All too often we are reminded just how fragile our work-life
balance can be when an occupational accident affects a colleague, a friend,
family member or even our own life. Many of us never think to ask; shouldn’t
work be safe?
More than twenty one years ago the Canadian Labour
Congress declared April 28th the National Day of Mourning for workers injured or
killed on the job. Every year since, unions, labour councils, families and
community partners gather by the thousands to 'mourn the dead'. What began
through the efforts of Canada's labour movement is now observed in more than 80
countries.
This year will mark the 33rd anniversary of the
National Day of Mourning. Over the years, members of many Unifor Locals –
including members at Local 2002 – have been affected by loss as fellow brothers
and sisters who have lost their lives while in the workplace. No one can escape
the emotional and often devastating impact that comes from a workplace trauma.
The National Day of Mourning is not only a day to reflect and remember those
individuals who have lost their lives, but it is also a time to renew the
commitment to improving health and safety in the workplace; to prevent further
deaths, injuries and diseases from work.
On April 28, the National Day or Mourning, let us
pause to pay tribute to all workers hurt or killed on the job through injury or
employment-related illness and to remember the loss of six Unifor brothers who
lost their lives at work since the last Day of Mourning in 2016.
Henry van Van Dijk, Local 144, Winnipeg, MB, April
26th, 2016
Régis Tremblay, Local 1210, Roberval, QC, July 17,
2016
Eugene Walsh, FFAW-Unifor, Shea Heights, NL,
September 6th, 2016
Keith Walsh Sr., FFAW-Unifor, Shea Heights, NL,
September 6th, 2016
Keith Walsh Jr., FFAW-Unifor, Shea Heights, NL,
September 6th, 2016
Lawrence (Laurie) Sullivan, FFAW-Unifor, Calvert,
NL, April 5th, 2017
Along with marking the lives lost, Unifor also
recognizes that 2017 is the 25th anniversary of the devastating Westray coal
mine explosion, when 26 Nova Scotia miners were killed on May 9, 1992. Following
this disaster labour fought for enhanced legislation, known as the Westray law,
to hold managers and directors of corporations to account for failure to protect
the lives of workers and be held criminally responsible for injury or death.
Let's remember those who have lost their lives and
demand safer workplaces for all working people.
Find a full list of events here, compiled by the Canadian Labour Congress.
In solidarity,
Ian Bennie – Unifor 2002 National Health and Safety
Coordinator
Wendy Brennan – Unifor 2002/Jazz CSA-ACS, Health and
Safety Coordinator
Anees Munshi – Unifor 2002/Jazz Line Technical Services, Health and
Safety Coordinator
Cameron Palmer – Unifor 2002/JTS Health and Safety Coordinator
Cheryl Robinson – Unifor Local 2002 President
File created using content from
Unifor and
Canadian Labour Congress.
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