The Canadian Labour Congress established April 28th as the National Day of Mourning in Canada in 1984. Set to remember and honour those who have died, been injured or suffered illness in the workplace. As a reminder to continue to fight for the living, working towards ending workplace deaths and injuries. In 2022, 161 Alberta workers died as a result of their jobs. We must know our rights, use the tools and defend out wins to increase workplace health and safety for the betterment of all workplaces.
April 28 is a Day of Mourning for thousands of Canadian workers killed or injured on the job each year, or who die from work-related diseases. On this day, we mourn, but it is also a time to insist that all levels of government do more to enforce existing health and safety laws and vigorously prosecute violations when a worker is killed or seriously injured.
The labour movement worked for years to get changes to the Criminal Code so that corporations who kill are held criminally liable. This amended law, often called the Westray law, holds employers accountable if they fail to take steps to protect the lives of their employees.
Unfortunately that law is largely being ignored by governments. There have been only a handful of prosecutions for criminal negligence and only one conviction.
It is time for fair and equal treatment before the law for workplace injuries and deaths. We have made progress protecting workers’ health and safety, but together we have to keep fighting for safer workplaces for everyone. – Source
Jim Patterson March 6, 1965 to November 13, 2021 As this time rolls around, we again stop to remiss about Jim Patterson’s passing. We still miss you Brother, as does his close knit family and his Brothers and Sisters of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, District Lodge 14. It never lasted long enough.
Remembering Ryan Coughlan of IAM Local Lodge 99 who passed away on April 1, 2021 due to a workplace accident.
The Broken Families Monument
Grant Notley Park in Edmonton, Alberta
Day of Mourning – April 28, 2023
Kyle Franzen, BR IAMDL14 / Dan Uchacz, IAM AB Retirees Association
John Redwood, IAM AB Retirees Association / Paul Chandler, VP IAMDL14
Brother Kyle Franzen laying a wreath on behalf of the fallen workers.
IAM Brothers honouring those who have passed on.