National Day of Mourning was held on April 28 this year to remember workers who have lost their lives or have been injured in the workplace.
The United Steelworkers Local 6166 in Thompson held a press conference to talk about just how important it is to remember these unsung heroes and to make sure their tragedies do not repeat themselves.
In 2008, approximately 1,036 workplace deaths were recorded in Canada. Although the number was down from the 1,055 of the last year, this still means more than two deaths every single day across the country. The federal government says that on top of this, another 942,478 workers were injured or became ill from workplace-related causes that same year.
Murray Nychyporuk, president of Local 6166, says unions are all about the promotion of health and safety and putting pressure on governments and corporations to make sure those issues are taken seriously. He says in Thompson, it seems like they're getting the message. Vale Inco has partnered with the local union to buy into Safe Production and to work jointly with the union to create a safer workplace where both parties can learn from incidents that happen and where blame is not placed on the worker or the company.
"At the end of the day, a worker has to come home unharmed," Nychyporuk says. He adds the union needs the co-operation of the government and committees need to work together to resolve issues.
Although Nychyporuk says that for a long time there have been too few mines inspectors in Northern Manitoba, the provincial government is looking at adding another one. He also stresses the importance of the public showing they care about fallen workers and holding them in the same respect they would fallen police officers or soldiers - not just caring on a community by community basis but nationwide.
The National Day of Mourning was officially recognized by the federal government in 1991, eight years after the day was first initiated by the Canadian Labour Congress. Since then about 80 countries share in commemorating the day around the world.
