The Council of Canadians Guelph chapter will be at the Day of Mourning gathering in their community.
The Guelph and District Labour Council explains, “On April 28, the Workers Health and Safety Centre’s National Day of Mourning for workers injured, killed or made ill because of hazardous workplaces exposures takes place. Let’s renew our call for what works and oppose that which does not. Deregulation, employer self-regulation, minimalist approaches to the ‘worker right to know’, victim-blaming tactics and compensation rebates for simple compliance have no place in Ontario’s health and safety system! Working people deserve the tools necessary to promote their health and safety on the job.”
The Canadian Labour Congress has noted, “In 2013, more than 900 workers died because of something that happened to them at work. That’s just what was reported, but we know the real numbers are higher. Hundreds more die from under-reported illnesses and occupational diseases that go unrecognized by unfair government compensation rules or simply aren’t reported because workers can’t afford to take the time off. Workers in Canada today are four times more likely to die because of something that happens to them at work than to be murdered.”
In 1984, unions in Sudbury adopted April 28 to publicly acknowledge workplace injuries, illnesses, and deaths.
The date was chosen to reflect the anniversary of the day Ontario passed the Workers’ Compensation Act in 1914.
Canada recognized its first national day of mourning in 1991.
More than 100 countries have now adopted the observance widely known as Workers’ Memorial Day.
#April28
