Every year on April 28, we recognize the National Day of Mourning across Canada. This day is dedicated to remembering and honouring those who have lost their lives, or suffered injury or illness on the job. This year it hits especially close to our Local. It will have been 16 days since we lost our Brother Keith Murphy to a fatal workplace accident.
In Canada, we average nearly 18 workers a week killed for going to work. Over a thousand a day are injured. Since 1985, over 25,000 workers have died in Canada due to work-related injury or disease.
Your Union takes action
Every worker deserves a hazard-free work environment. The USW is active in advocating change for more safety in the workplace, through its campaign "Stop the killing, Enforce the law." This campaign started as a result of the Westray Mining disaster of 1992, in which 26 workers died on the job. Everybody deserves to go home alive and whole at the end of their shift.
The USW also implemented the Emergency Response Team (ERT), which offers caring and compassionate support to USW members, families and co-workers dealing with a workplace tragedy. Learn more about the ERT.
Local 1944 is especially grateful for the support of Brad Thompson from Local 6717. Brad is part of the Emergency Response Team for District 3. He was asked by the ERT dispatch in Pittsburgh to support our Local in coping with the loss of Brother Murphy. Brad was able to travel from Saskatchewan to BC and visit with the family and co-workers within 48 hours of the accident. In addition, our own Local Union Representative Chris Stephens has been dispatched to the region where Brother Murphy’s accident took place, to support Keith’s family and coworkers in any way possible. By all accounts, Brad and Chris have been extremely helpful to those involved and the Local is very grateful for their service.
"The demands of the service or the importance of the job are never so great that we cannot do the job safely."
Always keep in mind that if the job is not safe, it should not be done by any person until it is safe.
Events on National Day of Mourning
USW Local 1944 invites our members to attend one of the many National Day of Mourning events that are planned across the country. Please visit the CLC and FTQ calendars to find events taking place near your communities.
In Solidarity,
USW Local 1944
