April 28 is the day every year that we collectively stop and remember those who have been hurt, injured or killed at the workplace. It is called the National Day of Mourning and it is commemorated now all over the world by families, workers and union activists as a way to remind all of us to stay safe and to stay strong at work.
The history of the National Day of Mourning is also Canadian story. The idea started forming in 1983 when two labour activists, Colin Lambert and Ray Sentes, were driving to a union meeting, and were stopped by a funeral procession for a firefighter who had been killed in the line of duty. They wondered why other workers who died because of work-related accidents or incidents did not receive similar honours and remembered that members of the United Steelworkers in Elliot Lake held each year a “Workers’ Remembrance Day” for uranium miners who had succumbed to exposures.
The two union activists started talking to different unions to seek their endorsement to hold a national day of mourning and later that year the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) passed a resolution to that effect at its annual convention in 1983. The Canadian Labour Congress followed suit at its annual convention the following year and it has grown every year since. Now a National Day of Mourning or a “workers’ Memorial Day” is observed in over 100 countries around the world.
In December 1990, the National Day of Mourning became a national observance in Canada with the passing of the Workers Mourning Day Act. On April 28, 1991, was the first official National Day of Mourning for persons killed or injured in the workplace. Now on April 28 every year the Canadian flag flies at half-mast on Parliament Hill and on all federal government buildings. Employers and workers observe the Day of Mourning in a variety of ways. Some light candles, lay wreaths, wear commemorative pins, ribbons, or black armbands, and pause for a moment of silence.
The Union of Health and Environment Workers encourages all members to take a few moments on April 28 to mourn the dead and to recommit to fighting for the living. To working together to prevent accidents and injuries at the workplaces and to ensure that every worker is safe and strong at work.
April 28 is also a good reminder to all workers about our rights under health and safety laws and regulations. This includes:
- The right to know about the hazards in their workplace and receive the training they need to be able to do their jobs safely.
- The right to participate in decisions that could affect their health and safety.
- The right to refuse work that could endanger their health and safety or that of others.
Stay safe and stay strong.
As always, we’d love to hear from you. Drop me a line at the e-mail below.
Help us build UHEW together!!
In solidarity
Shimen Fayad
shimen.fayad@uhew-stse.ca
