National Day of Mourning

Transcription

1 National Day of Mourning The National Day of Mourning, held annually on April 28, was officially recognized by the federal government in 1991, eight years after the day of remembrance was launched by the Canadian Labour Congress. The Day of Mourning has since spread to about 80 countries around the world and has been adopted by the AFL-CIO and the International Confederation of Free Trade. The numbers tell the story. In 2015, 802 workplace deaths were recorded in Canada; this represents more than 2.3 deaths every single day. The Canadian flag is flown at half-mast from sunrise to sunset on all federal government buildings, including on Parliament Hill. Workers and employees observe this day in various ways including lighting candles, donning ribbons and black armbands, and observing a moment of silence at 11:00 hrs. The purpose of Day of Mourning is twofold- to remember and honor those lives lost or injured and to renew the commitment to improving health and safety in the workplace. As much as this is a day to remember the dead, it is also a call to protect the living. Closer to Home Each year on this day, our provinces renew commitments to improve occupational health and safety in the workplace. Provincial Legislatures will read the names of those who lost their lives to their work into the Provincial Records. The Canadian Labour Congress inscribes the names in the National Registry in Ottawa. - In 2016, Saskatchewan recorded 31 workplace deaths. - Alberta lost 144 men and women to workplace injury or illness in 2016.

2 - Manitoba lost 25 workers in 2016 to workplaces injuries and illnesses. Let us strengthen the resolve to establish safe conditions in the workplace, and prevent injuries and deaths. Take time to remember them on April 28 Saskatchewan Estevan & District Labour Committee Ceremony will take place on Friday, April 28 th in front of the Court House ( th Street) in Estevan at 5:00pm. For information contact Sammy Dryden at Moose Jaw & District Labour Council Ceremony will take place Friday, April 28 th at 5:30pm at the Moose Jaw Union Centre (1402 Caribou St. W) in front of the building. For more information contact Joe Murrell at Regina & District Labour Council The observance will take place at 5:00 p.m. on Friday, April 28th at Queen Elizabeth II Court, Regina City Hall. The vigil is part of our May Works week and will last about an hour. The ceremony will be followed by a reception at the Regina Union Centre, th Ave. For further information, contact President Ken Kubian at or kkubian@yahoo.ca. Saskatoon & District Labour Council Ceremony will take place Friday, April 28 th at 7:00pm at the Masonic Temple (1021 Sask Cres W). Contact Kelly Harrington, President at for more information. Weyburn & District Labour Council Ceremony will take place Friday, April 28 th at 6:30 pm at the T.C. Douglas Cavalry Centre ( th Avenue SE). Contact Wanda Bartlett at for more information. Yorkton & District Labour Council Ceremony will take place Friday, April 28 th at 7:00pm at A-180 Broadway Street West (Front Lawn). Contact Maryann Federko for more information. Alberta Edmonton and District Labour Council Amphitheatre in Borden Park at 12:15 p.m. For more details, please visit the Edmonton and District Labour Council's website. Central Alberta Chapter and Parkland Regional Safety Committee Red Deer City Hall (west-side steps) at 11 a.m. For more details, please contact treena.dixon@primeboiler.com. Calgary Day of Mourning Committee SAIT Aldred Centre at 11 a.m. For more details, please contact calgarydayofmourning@gmail.com. Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Local 70, the City of Lethbridge, and the Canadian Association of Safety Engineers (CSSE) CUPE Memorial in Mountain View Cemetery at noon. For more details, please contact melissa.craig@lethbridge.ca Manitoba City of Winnipeg: Annual Workers Day of Mourning Ceremony Time: 9:00 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. Where: Council Building - City Hall Courtyard

3 Manitoba Federation of Labour: Memorial Service and Candlelight Vigil Time: 11:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Where: Room 2C Union Centre, 275 Broadway SAFE Workers of Tomorrow - Leaders' Walk to the Manitoba Legislature Theme: Twenty Years of Youth Safety Time: 12:00-12:30 Where: Union Centre, 275 Broadway The history behind National Day of Mourning In 1984, the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) began to celebrate Workers Memorial Day. On April 28, 1985, the Canadian Labour Congress officially declared it an annual day of national remembrance. In December 1990, the Workers Mourning Day Act passed in Parliament, making April 28 as the annual Canadian National Day of Mourning. The Day of Mourning has since spread to about 80 countries around the world. The National Day of Mourning focuses our attention on these workplace tragedies and reminds us that there is more work to do in the area of workplace health and safety. Mourning Day Act S.C. 1991, c. 15 An Act respecting a Day of Mourning for Persons Killed or Injured in the Workplace [Assented to 1st February, 1991] WHEREAS it is desirable that Canadians should designate a day of mourning to remember workers killed, disabled or injured in the workplace and workers afflicted with industrial disease; AND WHEREAS Canadians seek earnestly to set an example of their commitment to the issue of health and safety in the workplace; NOW, THEREFORE, Her Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate and House of Commons of Canada, enacts as follows Short title 1.This Act may be cited as the Workers Mourning Day Act. Day of Mourning 2. (1) Throughout Canada, in each and every year, the 28th day of April shall be known under the name of "Day of Mourning for Persons Killed or Injured in the Workplace".

4 (2) For greater certainty, the Day of Mourning for Persons Killed or Injured in the Workplace is not a legal holiday or a non-juridical day and shall not be required to be kept or observed as such. Something to think about It is reported by Worksafe Saskatchewan that Saskatchewan s 2016 workplace time loss injury rate lowest in 64 years Total injury rate drops 11.9% from 2015 Total injury rate 5.55% Time Loss injury rate 1.86% 85.7% of rate codes have a lower total injury rate than in % of Saskatchewan employers achieved zero injuries Saskatchewan 3rd-highest in Canada for workplace injuries The total workplace injury rate for 2016 was 5.55 percent, o An 11.9 percent drop from 2015, and a significant decrease from 2008 when the total injury rate was percent. The Time Loss injury rate decreased from 2.07 percent to 1.86 percent. o Time loss claims fell by 604 claims to 7,813. o Total claims fell 2,220 from 2015, an 8.69 percent decrease. The WCB s Chief Executive Officer Peter Federko credits the injury prevention efforts of employers, workers, partners, and the WCB s own partnership in WorkSafe Saskatchewan and its goal Mission: Zero A 2016 University of Regina study using AWCBC & Sask. WCB statistics reports that Saskatchewan has Canada s third highest average injury-related fatality rate. 504% higher than Manitoba s rate. 69% higher than Alberta s rate. A Puzzle: Saskatchewan s Steadily Declining Time-Lost Injury Rate and Recent Increase in Injury-Related Fatality Rate SK Fatality Rate per 100,000 SK Injury Rate per 100

5 Don t let the stats get you off guard THINK SAFETY get prepared BEFORE you start the work.