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April 28 is the National Day of Mourning
April 25, 2015
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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. |
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.
In 2013, the last year statistics were released from the Association of Workers’ Compensation Boards of Canada, more than 900 workers died on the job. If we take into account the number of deaths from occupational disease, not usually part of workers’ compensation statistics, then the death toll numbers in the hundreds of thousands.
We take a moment to remember Brother Jim Larmer
Sadly, we take this time to remember our long time Unifor Local 4001/Council 4000 member Jim Larmer, who on September 9, 2014, tragically lost his life while working as a Heavy Equipment Operator at CN's Vancouver Intermodal Terminal (VIT).
Brother Larmer, who was always eager to assist others, took the time to help out a co-worker (another member), a CN Garage Mechanic, who was removing a refrigerating generator (genset) from off an intermodal container. The forklift that is used to hold the heavy genset while the clips are removed and lower and move the genset, ran out of propane in close proximity to the container but had not yet been positioned to lift/support the nose mount on the genset prior to taking the bolts out. The Garage Mechanic who was to do the task of removing the clip, left the area to get fuel for the forklift. Brother Larmer went up high on a ladder to help out by holding the genset. As the forklift was not in position to take the weight off the clip, bolts were removed from the clip and it fell off the container, knocking Brother Larmer off the ladder onto the ground with the falling clip hitting him as it swung down. Brother Larmer was knocked unconscious, though he later regained consciousness. He spoke to coworkers and supervisors who came to his aid and said he was okay, but was taken to hospital as a precaution. On the way to the hospital, he lost consciousness again and his brain started to swell. Brother Larmer passed away in the hospital early the following morning.
Brother Larmer had 32 years' service with CN. His coworkers were all visibly shaken, commenting that one minute Jim's at work doing what he always does at VIT, the next, he's gone and is now no longer with us. How fast an accident can happen of which you can never predict the consequences. We miss Jim and will always remember him.
We must remember that many of our members work in safety and risk sensitive environments, dangerous working conditions if you are not taking the proper care and precautions. An accident or injury can happen just like that, so take the proper care and time and all the necessary precautions to ensure both your safety and that you return home from work each day to your family.
Pause for one-minute of silence at 11:00 local time on April 28
We ask our Unifor National Council 4000 membership from coast to 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
Related:
Apr.25, 2015 - Rail Safety Week
In 2013, the last year statistics were released from the Association of Workers’ Compensation Boards of Canada, more than 900 workers died on the job. If we take into account the number of deaths from occupational disease, not usually part of workers’ compensation statistics, then the death toll numbers in the hundreds of thousands.
We take a moment to remember Brother Jim Larmer
Sadly, we take this time to remember our long time Unifor Local 4001/Council 4000 member Jim Larmer, who on September 9, 2014, tragically lost his life while working as a Heavy Equipment Operator at CN's Vancouver Intermodal Terminal (VIT).
Brother Larmer, who was always eager to assist others, took the time to help out a co-worker (another member), a CN Garage Mechanic, who was removing a refrigerating generator (genset) from off an intermodal container. The forklift that is used to hold the heavy genset while the clips are removed and lower and move the genset, ran out of propane in close proximity to the container but had not yet been positioned to lift/support the nose mount on the genset prior to taking the bolts out. The Garage Mechanic who was to do the task of removing the clip, left the area to get fuel for the forklift. Brother Larmer went up high on a ladder to help out by holding the genset. As the forklift was not in position to take the weight off the clip, bolts were removed from the clip and it fell off the container, knocking Brother Larmer off the ladder onto the ground with the falling clip hitting him as it swung down. Brother Larmer was knocked unconscious, though he later regained consciousness. He spoke to coworkers and supervisors who came to his aid and said he was okay, but was taken to hospital as a precaution. On the way to the hospital, he lost consciousness again and his brain started to swell. Brother Larmer passed away in the hospital early the following morning.
Brother Larmer had 32 years' service with CN. His coworkers were all visibly shaken, commenting that one minute Jim's at work doing what he always does at VIT, the next, he's gone and is now no longer with us. How fast an accident can happen of which you can never predict the consequences. We miss Jim and will always remember him.
We must remember that many of our members work in safety and risk sensitive environments, dangerous working conditions if you are not taking the proper care and precautions. An accident or injury can happen just like that, so take the proper care and time and all the necessary precautions to ensure both your safety and that you return home from work each day to your family.
Pause for one-minute of silence at 11:00 local time on April 28
We ask our Unifor National Council 4000 membership from coast to 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
Related:
Apr.25, 2015 - Rail Safety Week
