National Day of Mourning April 28th, 2014

Dear Sisters and Brothers,

National Day of Mourning, April 28th, 2014

Each day we benefit from the labour of millions of workers who give large proportions of their lives to provide us with everything which makes up modern life, from power to textile.  And every year, hundreds of thousands suffer injury or illness because of their working conditions.  And some of these workers die on the job.  They are not forgotten.

“Remember the Dead, Fight for the Living”

The slogan for the Day of Mourning reflects the need to remember those who lost their lives but also contains a strong reminder of the need to press for improvements in health and safety in our workplaces ensuring that workers are protected from workplace hazards that lead to needless deaths, serious injury or illness.

This year we continue to focus on an acknowledgment of our workplace health and safety advocates, their role in reducing workplace accidents and ill health and how this has become increasingly important set against continuing attacks on health and safety legislation by Governments and cuts to resources given to the Healthy and Safety programs.

The pain and suffering caused by work related deaths and injury is quite rightly remembered and in cities, towns, and communities throughout Canada memorials can be found to industrial tragedies that happened on our doorsteps.

For the families of those who were killed and injured in these and other workplace tragedies their lives change immeasurably and they often feel let down by a justice system that takes far too long to establish exactly how their loved ones died, or in the case of those injured, the circumstances that led to them suffering life changing injuries.

On April 28th, please take time to reflect on the service rendered to each of us by millions of unseen workers who make up the workforce of our world and who support the life we lead.

Let us collectively ensure that this year’s Day of Mourning observances sends a strong message to all governments of their obligation and responsibility to strongly enforce health and safety laws and regulations.  We need to tell our elected politicians we want action and we intend to spport only those who will give us this commitment.

In solidarity,

Jerry Dias
National President

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