Unions have always been at the forefront of securing stronger health and safety laws to protect our members and all workers across Canada. Every April 28th labour activists and Union members and other supporters come together at various ceremonies in local communities to mourn for those that have been injured or killed on the job and recommit our efforts to improve worker health and safety protections.
With relentless technological advances in Artificial Intelligence, robotics, drones, surveillance systems, etc. the occupational demands placed on workers is ever increasing. Compounding matters, budget cuts/staff reductions in the workplace have drastically increased many workload expectations and pressures resulting in unprecedented levels of job-related stress.
Experience has taught us that without enforceable and enforced health & safety laws, we can never achieve high standards of physical and mental well being in the workplace is elusive at best. Some jurisdictions in Europe, Latin America and Asia-Pacific including all five Australian states have already recognized this reality and have implemented legislation to promote psychologically healthy workplaces. Provinces in Canada need to do the same. Let’s work together to help make that happen.
This year’s Day of Mourning theme is “Worker Mental Health” ensuring workers not only survive but also thrive. You can download the Worker Health & Safety Centre flyer here.
Please make every effort to attend a local Day of Mourning event on April 28th. Day of Mourning events being held in various communities throughout your province can be found on the Canadian Labour Congress website.
If you can’t attend, please stay involved by doing your part to make your place of employment a safer and healthier workplace for all your SEIU Local 2 members. You can access and utilize useful resources from your province’s Federation of Labour, The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health & Safety (CCOHS) and Worker Health & Safety Centre (WHSC).
Fight for the Living, Mourn for the Dead.
