On April 28, your union will join labour and community allies in coming together to mark the National Day of Mourning. This event is about remembering workers killed, injured or made ill on the job and resolving to prevent future tragedies.
Your union will be be marking the event at 11a.m. at Woodbridge Memorial Arena, 5020 Highway #7 (at Islington), Vaughan, Ontario.
The Day of Mourning is an annual tradition that was started by the Canadian Labour Congress in 1984. Today, the Day is observed in more than 100 countries around the world.
Every year, between 900 to 1,000 workers die at work in Canada. That corresponds to close to three workers dying each day. Over the course of the last 20 years, that has translated to roughly more than 19,000 workers who have lost their lives to work-related causes.
This April 28, your union will join Canadian unions who are calling for a national ban on asbestos, a known killer that causes disease, suffering and death — all of it preventable.
Lung cancer due to asbestosis is the number-one cause of occupational death in Canada. Since 1996, asbestos-related diseases have accounted for about a third of the workplace deaths recognized by workers’ compensation boards. By working together – with employers, unions, workers and our health and safety partners, we can work towards every worker returning home at the end of the day safe and sound.
UFCW Canada reports injuries sustained by individuals in Canada costs an estimated $19.8 billion annually in health care costs, and costs related to reduced productivity from hospitalization, disability and premature death.
What you can do to mark the National Day of Mourning:
- Visit UFCW Canada's special National Day of Mourning Site
- Attend a Day of Mourning event in your community
- Encourage others to attend an event
- Educate others about health and safety rights, responsibilities and prevention measures
To find out about the time and location of a Day of Mourning event in your community, please see UFCW Canada's list.
