Today marks the 8th year of the #RanaPlaza collapse that claimed the lives of 1,138 garment workers in #Bangladesh. Workers do not deserve to die because of work. Recognise occupational health & safety as a fundamental right! #SaveLivesAtWork #IWMD21 pic.twitter.com/t2TvPqt0Iu
— ITUC-Asia Pacific (@itucasiapacific) April 24, 2021
“Incredibly moving seeing the names and photos being added to this memorial page” says Shelly Asquith of TUC. more
Incredibly moving seeing the names and photos being added to this memorial page ?
As we approach Workers’ Memorial Day, we remember every person who lost their lives because of their job.
And we fight to make work safe ✊ #IWMD21Have a look: https://t.co/1rKOs8LQWh
— Shelly Asquith (@ShellyAsquith) April 19, 2021
The National Day of Mourning, held annually on April 28, is dedicated to remembering those who have lost their lives or suffered injury or illness on the job. This annual event was initiated by the labour movement 37 years ago to increase awareness of on-the-job injuries and fatal workplace accidents. This day of remembrance was officially recognized by the federal government in 1991, six years after it was launched by the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) in 1985.
Although the National Day of Mourning is now recognized in more than 100 countries, including Canada, last year underscored that there is still a lot of work to accomplish in order to improve workers’ safety.
In the past year, the way we live and work greatly changed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Millions of Canadian workers have had to cope with reduced work hours or modified schedules, or been compelled to stay at home due to childcare issues, illness, or other personal challenges stemming from government-mandated emergency measures. Yet, others have had to continue working in spite of the persistent danger this virus represents.
We had to adapt the way we work, using personal protective equipment adapted to our different activities throughout the country. Workers of various sectors such as the postal service, put their health and safety at risk on a daily basis to ensure that Canadians can get through these unprecedented times. And all the while trying their best to take care of their own well-being and mental health.
This Wednesday, April 28, 2021, it is important that, wherever we are, we take the time to remember our brothers and sisters who have endured hardships or who tragically did not survive this terrible virus. Let us also remember those who died, suffered injuries or became disabled while on duty. We must all commit to continuing the struggle to force employers and governments to fulfill their obligation to make every workplace a safe and healthy one. We must also continue seeking stronger health and safety standards and protection, and better enforcement in our workplaces.
AN INJURY TO ONE IS AN INJURY TO ALL!
In solidarity,
Marc Roussel
National Union Representative – Health and Safety
| Attachment | Size |
| NATIONAL DAY OF MOURNING – APRIL 28, 2021 CUPW SHOWS RESPECT (pdf) | 352.43 KB |
| Poster (pdf) |
https://www.cupw.ca/en/national-day-mourning-%E2%80%93-april-28-2021-cupw-shows-respect
Two annual events taking place on 28 April serve as a reminder of the importance of the occupational safety and health profession in protecting workers.
On International Workers’ Memorial Day, organised by the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), we remember those who have lost their lives or suffered life-changing injuries or illness at work.
These tragedies could have been prevented. This is why 28 April also marks World Day for Safety and Health at Work, which raises awareness of actions to prevent injury and death at work. It is an initiative of the International Labour Organization, which this year is focusing on strategies to strengthen national occupational safety and health systems to build resilience, to face crises now and in the future. IOSH’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic has highlighted the need for a systematic approach to protecting workers: preparedness is the key to prevention.
Jimmy Quinn, President of IOSH, said: “Our members – occupational safety and health professionals – have had a crucial role in responding to the pandemic. They’ve helped to ensure that safe practices and procedures have been introduced and implemented in the workplace to protect workers, customers and suppliers. If ever there was a time for our members to demonstrate the value of their knowledge, skills and experience, it has been now. IOSH has supported them by producing and sharing up-to-date guidance, continuing to be a trusted and authoritative source of information throughout the pandemic.
“Yet we also remember that even before the pandemic 2.78 million people were dying each year from work-related illness and injury. These deaths are even more tragic because they are preventable.”
The following figures from the ITUC show the scale of the challenges in protecting people at work:
Jimmy added: “These shocking facts remind us of the need to redouble our efforts with governments, business and labour to bring about radical change in how work is organised. Work should support life. It should not do the opposite – endanger life. This is the overarching message from IOSH on this day of remembrance and motivation to protect workers around the world.
“IOSH has always advocated that the best approach is prevention first. Anticipating and preparing for risks requires investment in and good management of resilient occupational safety and health systems. It also requires a competent, trained and experienced occupational safety and health profession.”
IOSH has been added to the register of participants in the United Nations Global Compact, the world’s largest corporate sustainability initiative, aligning our strategy to universal principles on human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption. We are committed to being an exemplar of sustainability in supporting the health, safety and wellbeing of all workers.
IOSH is encouraging members and others to observe a minute’s silence at 11am BST on 28 April to pay tribute to those who have died or suffered life-changing injuries or illness at work.
https://iosh.com/more/news-listing/work-should-support-life/
⚠️Se aproxima el 2⃣8⃣ de abril, Día internacional en memoria de los trabajadores fallecidos y heridos.
ℹ️Descubre aquí cómo unirte a la campaña para hacer de la salud y la seguridad un derecho laboral fundamental:https://t.co/z6F3H6zR2l
— IndustriALL (@IndustriALL_GU) April 26, 2021
Health and safety is your right.
28 April – Workers Memorial Day
Health&Safety is YOUR RIGHT 2
Protection from
?#COVID19
?Heavy lifting
?Dangerous substances
?Stress, harassment & bullying
Trade unions fighting ✊ every day for safe&healthy workplaces for all workers#IWMD21 #SaveLivesAtWork@ituc @etuc_ces pic.twitter.com/RyOWGWoi2e— kesk international (@kesk_int) April 25, 2021
After a year of COVID-19, a National Day of Mourning for workers who died or were injured on the job isn’t enough for some labour activists in Greater Toronto.
They want a whole week, from Sunday, April 25, to Saturday, May 1, declared a “week of pause” in Ontario.
There’s no accurate count of everyone — farm labourers, Amazon associates, personal support workers, nurses, bus drivers, cleaners, restaurant servers — who lost their lives or suffered over the pandemic after catching the virus at work, but it dwarfs tolls commemorated during past Days of Mourning in Ontario.
It was the Tamil Workers Network, volunteers working with the Toronto and York Region Labour Council, which first proposed going beyond the Day of Mourning on April 28 to “make Ontario pause, reflect on the power of its workers and the respect they deserve.”
Jennifer Huang, representing the labour council’s Chinese Workers Network, called the Tamil workers’ letter timely. “There’s a whole bunch of things (in it) we wholeheartedly agree with,” said Huang, who said her group will likely write its own open letter to the province asking for similar things. I think workers need to speak out,” said Huang, who said besides the virus, many workers have had to deal during the past year at work with “a skin pandemic” of energy-sapping racism that is mentally and emotionally taxing.
“Sometimes, the injuries we bear are not just physical” but mental or emotional, she said.
Scarborough Mirror.
https://www.toronto.com/news-story/10380563-tamil-and-chinese-workers-networks-hope-to-pause-ontario-from-april-25-to-may-1/
CTSP (Mauritius) held a virtual activity on Saturday 24 April. The activity had a series of other connected activities, ie. local and national level:
Jane Ragoo
General Secretary – CTSP (Mauritius) Confédération des Travailleurs des Secteurs Publique et Privé
5 Nalla Street (Ex 6-10), Elias Street – Rose Hill, Republic of Mauritius
