On April 28 people across Canada stop to remember workers killed, injured or disabled on the job. We ask that on April 28 you and your union local take a moment to honour their memory by joining local events or having one at your local.
You can find an event near you by scrolling down to view regional listings below.
Please also take a moment to read the letter from our Health and Safety Officer, Clint Wirth, below.
Posters for printing and sharing:
These can also be picked up at the regional office until Thursday April 21 as we will be closed from April 25-29 due to a staff conference. Please contact the office at 780-423-1290 to arrange your pick-up.
LETTER FROM REGIONAL REPRESENTATIVE FOR HEALTH AND SAFETY, CLINT WIRTH
The official Day of Mourning will soon be upon us. On this day, we are reminded of the grim statistics of workers who have died or been injured in Canadian workplaces. We also remember the fact that these numbers are real people with real families.
This is not, however, purely a day of remembrance, it is also a day for a call to action. It is a day to recognize changes that will create safe workplaces for our members and all workers in Canada.
Many injuries in the workplace are easy to recognize, but recently, mental health in the workplace, a less visible health and safety risk, has been an increasing concern in many of our workplaces. There needs to be an ongoing demand to recognize mental health as much as we recognize other health issues. The PSAC has recently launched a National “Stop Workplace Violence” Campaign.
More information regarding violence prevention can be found at; www.psacunion.ca/stopworkplaceviolence.ca
Another issue we need to remain diligent on is asbestos safety and awareness. Exposure to asbestos is the number one cause of workplace related deaths in Canada. One of the basic rights for health and safety is the right to know. After years of campaigning by the PSAC and other unions, we applaud the recent decision by Public Services and Procurement Canada to ban the use of asbestos in all new construction and renovation projects effective April 1, 2016. That includes buildings at the design phase. The government says they are developing a complete inventory of Crown-owned buildings to be catalogued into a central government database. This should be completed by the end of April 2016. PSAC strongly advocated for this inventory.
We encourage all PSAC members across the Prairie Region to attend local National Day of Mourning observances and bring neighbours, friends, and other members from their Locals. The events that have been confirmed are included on the following page. Please contact your PSAC Regional Office for information on events taking place in your area.
In Solidarity,
Clint Wirth
Regional Representative, Health and Safety
Public Service Alliance of Canada
INTERNATIONAL DAY OF MOURNING EVENTS IN THE PRAIRIES
Manitoba:
WINNIPEG:
National Day of Mourning Candle Light Memorial Service
11:00 a.m. April 28, 2016
2nd Floor Auditorium, Union Centre, 275 Broadway Avenue
Safe Workers of Tomorrow Leaders’ Walk
Friday, April 26, 11:45 a.m.
March from Union Centre Entrance (275 Broadway) to Manitoba Legislature
BRANDON:
National Day of Mourning Service
City Hall Foyer, 410 9th Street
April 28, 5:30 - 6:30 pm
THOMPSON:
National Day of Mourning Memorial Service
Steel Centre, 19 Elizabet Drive
April 28, 7:00 pm
SELKIRK:
Selkirk and District Labour Council Day of Mourning Leaders Walk
Selkirk Memorial Hall (376 Jemima Street),
April 28, 2016, 10:45 am - 11:30 am
Light lunch to follow (Steel Workers Hall, 410 Pittsburg Avenue)
DAUPHIN:
National Day of Mourning Walk
Starting at the MGEU Building and marching to the Court House and back
April 28, Noon - 1:00 pm
Saskatchewan:
Estevan & District Labour Committee
Thursday, April 28th in front of the Court House (1016 4th Street) in Estevan at 5:00pm.
Moose Jaw & District Labour Council
Thursday, April 28th at 5:30pm
Moose Jaw Union Centre (1402 Caribou St. W)
North Battleford & District Labour Council
Monday, May 2 at 6:30pm
Don Ross Centre, Room 101 (891 99th Street).
Regina & District Labour Council
5:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 28th
Queen Elizabeth II Court, Regina City Hall.
Saskatoon & District Labour Council
Thursday, April 28th at 7:00pm
Francis Morrison Library (311 23rd Street E)
Weyburn & District Labour Council
Thursday, April 28th at 6:30pm
T.C. Douglas Cavalry Centre (400 10th Avenue SE)
Yorkton & District Labour Council
Thursday, April 28th at 7:00pm
A-180 Broadway Street West (Front Lawn)
Alberta:
Calgary & District Labour Council Workers Memorial
Thursday, April 28, 12:15 p.m.
700 Macleod Trail Southeast
Calgary, Alberta T2G 2M3 Canada
Edmonton & District Labour Council Candlelight Ceremony
Broken Families Obelisk
6:00pm to 7:00pm
Grant Notley Park 11603-100th Avenue, with a reception to follow at the park.
