Day of mourning ceremonies took place on the steps of City Hall this morning. Photos by Jeff Turl.
Three or four workers died on the job in Nipissing and area last year says Henri Giroux, President of the North Bay and District Labour Council.
And this morning about 40 people gathered at City Hall to remember them and others that die on the job every year.
April 28th is the day labour remembers those whose lives were lost and those whose lives were forever changed because of something that happened in their workplace.
“Workers in Canada today are four times more likely to die because of something that happens to them at work than to be murdered. Yet, many of the men and women we elected to represent us in 2011, who claim to be “tough on crime” aren’t so tough with employers and companies responsible for workers’ injuries and deaths. In fact, many of them have supported new laws that take away long-standing health and safety rights from working people” said Giroux.
Guest speaker Andreane Chenier, CUPE Health and Safety Representative told the crowd that about 1,000 canadians die on the job every year, and about 300 of those are Ontarians.
According to the Workplaces Safety and Insurance Board statistics, last year the families of 389 workers filed death claims and more than 238,373 workers, filed occupational injury and disease claims.
The outcomes of countless other workplace incidents and exposures go unreported, especially occupational disease claims.
In 1984 the Canadian Labour Congress, and its affiliated unions, established April 28 as the day to honour workers killed, injured or made ill. Today the day is recognized in more than 100 countries.
Giroux stated, “Our message to bosses is simple… kill a worker…Go to Jail !”
