April 28th is designated by Royal Statute as, a ‘Day of Mourning for Person’s Killed or Injured in the Workplace’. The Statute declares that, “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.” This day is critical to public awareness and support of our collective efforts to save worker lives.
The sad fact is that each year brings new statistics representing the on-going travesty, heartache and hardship of personal loss as a result of workplace accidents. We can take heart in the fact that efforts of occupational health and safety activists everywhere are reflected in the recent decline in lost time injury results, but severity of accidents and resulting deaths overall remain at an abhorrent rate.
Many Local lodges plan Day of Mourning Events. Many more attend those events that are staged by local labour councils. Please heed the call put out earlier by the International asking that we encourage maximum participation.
‘Mourn the Dead, Fight for the Living!’
