In 1990, Parliament passed the Workers Mourning Day Act to recognize April 28th as the day to remember workers killed or injured on the job. Over 1,000 Canadians lose their lives at work every year. On this day, the labour movement honours those whose lives have been forever changed by a workplace incident. The motto “Remember the Fallen. Fight for the Living” commits workers and labour unions to advocate for stronger health and safety standards and eliminate all workplace injuries and fatalities.
Currently, front line workers and health care workers are at risk during the COVID-19 pandemic. Do your part by self-isolating and taking appropriate precautions if you must go out, protect yourself, wash your hands frequently, and maintain social distancing to prevent the spread of the virus. If you are required to work on campus and you feel the employer is not taking adequate precautions let the union know so we can assist.
Mourning Ceremonies
Day of Mourning Ceremonies are being held in affiliation with the Toronto and York Region Labour Council virtually this year. As is customary, there will be one event for York Region and a second event for Toronto. To join, visit their Facebook page at the appropriate time to watch the ceremony or, visit their YouTube channel any time after 11 am on Tuesday to stream one of two ceremonies.
WHEN: Tuesday, April 28
11 am – York Region
12 noon – Toronto
WHERE: Via Facebook (be sure to follow their page) or via Labour Council’s YouTube channel
Remembering Kyle James Knox, who died in a workplace accident at York University
Here at York University, when the subway was being built in 2011, a construction worker named Kyle Knox was killed in a workplace accident. This stopped construction for some time, and when the construction workers returned, there was a quiet stillness about the worksite.
If you want to read about this young man, here is a link to his obituary in Macleans: https://www.macleans.ca/society/kyle-james-knox/
Threads of Life
If you or a loved one have been affected by a workplace death, injury, or illness, Threads of Life provides services like grief counseling, crisis intervention support, and health coping skills development. https://threadsoflife.ca/
Please stay safe at work and at home!
