April 27, 2018 - Every year on April 28, we celebrate the National Day of Mourning throughout Canada. This day is dedicated to remembering and honouring those who have lost their lives, or suffered injury or illness on the job.
The statistics from the Association of Workers' Compensation Boards of Canada show that 905 workplace deaths were recorded in 2016 in Canada. There were more than 241,500 claims for lost time due to a work-related injury or disease - this figure only includes the cases reported and accepted by the compensation boards. In Canada since 1985, over 25,000 workers have died due to work-related injury or disease.
Your union takes action
Because every worker deserves a hazard-free work environment, the USW is active in advocating change for more security in the workplace, through its campaign "Stop the killing, Enforce the law." Learn more about the USW's fight to prevent workplace deaths and injuries since the Westray mine disaster in 1992: http://1944.fyi/2I10Tb.
The USW also implemented the Emergency Response Team (ERT), that offers caring and compassionate support to USW members, families and co-workers dealing with a workplace tragedy. Learn more about the ERT.
"The demands of the service or the importance of the job are never so great that we cannot do the job safely."
Most occupational injuries and illnesses occur because workers are unaware of the hazards. Employers are legally responsible for the employees' health and safety, which implies preventing hazards, eliminating dangerous conditions, and providing safety training.
The most common causes of injury are slipping and falling, over-exertion, being struck by an object, suffering toxic effects from chemicals, and burns.
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 calendar to find events taking place near your communities, or check the events listed by provinces:
Alberta: http://1944.fyi/NDMAB
British Columbia: http://1944.fyi/NDMBC
Ontario: http://1944.fyi/NDMON
Québec: http://1944.fyi/NDMQC
In Solidarity,
USW Local 1944
