Dear Brothers & Sisters,
On April 28, the National Day of Mourning, we commemorate workers whose lives have been lost at work and those who have been injured in the workplace.
Only two years ago, Brittany Murray, an aspiring, young architect, was killed while working as a flagger on a road construction project in Manitoba. Sadly, Brittany is just one of the tragic instances where families have lost their loved ones because of unsafe work sites or working conditions.
The National Day of Mourning also recognizes those who have been injured in the workplace, and this year we are especially aware of asbestos poisoning. Howard Willem, long-time PSAC member and activist, was diagnosed with with mesothelioma (an asbestos related cancer of the lungs) and is leading the fight for safe workplaces and the banning of asbestos exportation in Canada.
Together, in our workplaces and throughout the country, we must enforce health and safety regulations and hold our employers accountable for keeping us safe. All injuries and deaths in the workplace are preventable.
In Solidarity,
Robyn Benson
Regional Executive Vice-President
Public Service Alliance of Canada, Prairies