Communities across Ontario held ceremonies Friday and over the weekend to commemorate the national Day of Mourning. Injured workers speaking at these events brought home the horrendous reality behind the numbers (227 Ontario fatalities in 2017 from occupational injury or illness according to the WSIB, up from 208 in 2016).
April 28 is a time to pay due tribute and ‘Mourn the dead.’ In the words of a grieving daughter at the Timmins ceremony, “sudden deaths at work and occupational disease are both workplace fatalities – one simply takes longer to happen….”
Given the unacceptable number of Ontario workers suffering occupational disease and injury – too often unreported and unrecognized – the Day of Mourning must also be a time to ‘Fight for the living’“ and demand action on:
- Tough enforcement of the province’s Occupational Health and Safety Act and regulations – with adequate inspections and meaningful penalties
- The right to fair and speedy compensation and health treatment, not a workers’ compensation system that forces injured workers to fight against a culture of disbelief and “look to deny”
Media coverage from around the province:
Algoma-Manitoulin
“Michael Mantha: National Day of Mourning” (WaWa News, Apr. 28)
Kingston
“Labour Council says Day of Mourning has extra impact this year.” (video) (Global News, Apr. 28)
Hamilton
“National Day of Mourning” ( video) (CHCH, Apr. 28)
Sudbury
“Gallery: Day of Mourning ceremony at LU” (Sudbury Star, Apr. 28)
Toronto
“Empty black streetcar in Toronto marks National Day of Mourning for workers.” (CTV News, Apr. 28)
Sault Ste Marie
“Violence and harassment are not part of the job” (SooToday, Apr. 29)
Welland-Port Colborne
“Remembering people lost to workplace accidents” (Welland Tribune, Apr. 29)
Niagara Region
“Sombre ceremonies mark tragedy of workplace fatalities.” (St Catharines Standard, Apr. 29)
Guelph
“Day of Mourning recognizes a different kind of workplace danger – workplace bullying and harassment.” (GuelphToday, Apr. 29)
Windsor
“Injured and killed workers remembered on Day of Mourning.” – including tribute to Rolly Marentette & video (Windsor Star, Apr. 29)
Lanark District
“Smith Falls remembers 14 workers on the Day of Mourning.” (InsideOttawaValley, Apr. 30)
Elliot Lake
“Five names added to Miners’ Memorial.” (ElliotLakeToday, Apr. 30)
Timmins
“Janice Martell speaks about ‘painful things’ during National Day of Mourning.” (Timmins Press, Apr. 30)
See also social media: twitter hashtag #DayofMourning; ONIWG Facebook; ONIWG twitter