Last year 19 Manitoba workers died on the job or from occupational disease. They may be gone, but they are not forgotten.
Today, on the National Day of Mourning, unions, labour councils, families and community partners gathered to mourn these losses and vow to prevent more. They follow with action in the workplace and community pressing for work that promotes dignity and health.
About the Day of Mourning
Twenty-five years ago, the federal government proclaimed April 28th as the National Day of Mourning for workers injured or killed on the job. While we can’t bring back those who have died, we can work to make workplaces safer today. That’s why on this April 28th, the Canadian Labour Congress, on behalf of Canadian unions, is calling for a national ban on asbestos, a known killer that causes disease, suffering and death – all of it preventable.
“Asbestos is the leading cause of work-related death in Canada, and with imports on the rise, the danger is increasing,” said CLC president Hassan Yussuff.
“That’s why we are calling on the federal government to commit to a comprehensive ban on all kinds of asbestos and to outline its plans for doing so before Parliament rises for its summer recess,” he added.
It is estimated that more than 2,000 people die every year in Canada from diseases caused by exposure to asbestos, like mesothelioma, lung cancer and asbestosis. It is the number-one cause of occupational death in Canada and since 1996, asbestos-related diseases have accounted for about a third of the workplace deaths recognized by workers’ compensation boards.
This year, Canada can take a giant step forward with a ban on asbestos to make all of our workplaces, homes and public spaces safer and healthier.
Events Held Across Manitoba
Ceremonies and walks were held across Manitoba today as MGEU members attended events in Dauphin, Selkirk, Winnipeg, Brandon and Thompson.
The annual noon-hour memorial walk in Winnipeg, organized by SAFE Workers of Tomorrow, is the largest Day of Mourning event in the province. Workers, representatives from labour and students walked from the Union Centre at Broadway and Smith, along Broadway to the Legislature to remind Manitobans of the need for safe workplaces.