April 28 is the International Day of Mourning
April 24, 2014
On December 28, 1990, 8-years after the Day of Remembrance was launched by the Canadian Labour Congress, April 28 was marked as the official day of observance to annually commemorate workers killed, injured or disabled on the job, or who suffer from occupational related illnesses. This day is also intended to show Canadians' concern for occupational health and safety.
Canada's National Day of Mourning spread to over 80 countries around the world and has been adopted by the AFL-CIO and the International Confederation of Free Trade, which has earned this important day to now be recognized as the International Day of mourning.
Canada's National Day of Mourning spread to over 80 countries around the world and has been adopted by the AFL-CIO and the International Confederation of Free Trade, which has earned this important day to now be recognized as the International Day of mourning.
In 2004, over 800 workers died from workplace injury and disease. Over 300,000 were injured seriously enough to prevent them from reporting to work.
It is estimated that over one million work-related injuries and illnesses are reported each year in Canada, not to mention the numbers that are not.
We ask our Unifor National Council 4000 membership from coast to coast to stop working at 11:00 local time on April 28th, and pause for one-minute of silence in memory of all Canadian workers who have been killed or injured on the job. The following Unifor Council 4000 Collective Agreements contain provisions with respect to observance to the National Day of Mourning:
On April 28th, the Canadian flag on Parliament Hill will fly at half-mast, workers will light candles, don ribbons and black armbands and observe moments of silence all across the country.
Making workplaces safer is, or should be, a daily effort. But April 28 has been singled out to offer employees and employers the opportunity to remember the dead, injured and ill, as well as publicly renew their commitment to improve health and safety in the workplace.
Click here to read Unifor's Statement on the National Day of Mourning
It is estimated that over one million work-related injuries and illnesses are reported each year in Canada, not to mention the numbers that are not.
We ask our Unifor National Council 4000 membership from coast to coast to stop working at 11:00 local time on April 28th, and pause for one-minute of silence in memory of all Canadian workers who have been killed or injured on the job. The following Unifor Council 4000 Collective Agreements contain provisions with respect to observance to the National Day of Mourning:
- Appendix IX of CN Agreement 5.1 (for non-clerical members);
- Appendix VIII of CN Agreement 5.4;
- Appendix N, Item 31 of VIA Rail Agreement No. 1 (for non-clerical members);
- Appendix 21, Item 31 of VIA Rail Agreement No.2 (for non-clerical members);
- Letter of Understanding #1 of Rocky Mountain Catering Co. Collective Agreement.
On April 28th, the Canadian flag on Parliament Hill will fly at half-mast, workers will light candles, don ribbons and black armbands and observe moments of silence all across the country.
Making workplaces safer is, or should be, a daily effort. But April 28 has been singled out to offer employees and employers the opportunity to remember the dead, injured and ill, as well as publicly renew their commitment to improve health and safety in the workplace.
Click here to read Unifor's Statement on the National Day of Mourning
