April 28 is the National Day of Mourning
April 25, 2016
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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 must remember that many of our 4,800 Unifor National Council 4000 members work in safety and risk sensitive environments where they are exposed to dangerous work environments and working conditions. If you are not taking the proper care and precautions, an accident or injury can happen just like that. So please ensure you pay attention and take the proper care, time and necessary precautions to ensure your safety and that you return home to your family each day following your work day.
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.
This April 28th, Unifor joins the Canadian Labour Congress in calling for a National Ban on Asbestos. Join Unifor in getting the federal government to finally and officially prohibit asbestos. Ask your Member of Parliament and Prime Minister Trudeau to BAN ASBESTOS.
Click on the links below for more information:
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 must remember that many of our 4,800 Unifor National Council 4000 members work in safety and risk sensitive environments where they are exposed to dangerous work environments and working conditions. If you are not taking the proper care and precautions, an accident or injury can happen just like that. So please ensure you pay attention and take the proper care, time and necessary precautions to ensure your safety and that you return home to your family each day following your work day.
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.
- Unifor Statement on the National Day of Mourning
- Letter from Unifor National President Jerry Dias on the National Day of Mourning
This April 28th, Unifor joins the Canadian Labour Congress in calling for a National Ban on Asbestos. Join Unifor in getting the federal government to finally and officially prohibit asbestos. Ask your Member of Parliament and Prime Minister Trudeau to BAN ASBESTOS.
Click on the links below for more information:
Canadian Labour Congress: Ban asbestos: what are we asking for?
Ban Asbestos Canada
Sign the Petition to Ban Asbestos
Ban Asbestos Canada
Sign the Petition to Ban Asbestos
Related: Rail Safety Week
