Fraser Valley – April 28 is the National Day of Mourning, to mourn those lost to workplace illness and injuries.
Various labour groups support this yearly initiative. This coming on both the Provincial and Federal governments not coming together on recent calls for paid sick leave in light of COVID in the workplace, among other issues.
From Dayofmourning.ca and FVLC Fraser Valley Labour Council :
Every year, workers and their families come together on April 28, National Day of Mourning, to mourn those we have lost to workplace illness and injuries, and to re-commit to fight for the living. In 2021 we are over a year into the COVID-19 pandemic which has exposed how current workplace health and safety provisions are failing us.
No worker should be injured, made sick, or die just because they had to make a living. In this pandemic going to work sick could be hazardous, but 58% of Canadians don’t have access to paid sick leave through their employer and that number rises to 70 percent among people making less than $25,000 a year. The failure of governments to prioritize paid sick leave for workers in all jurisdictions puts everyone at risk and is prolonging and deepening the impacts of the pandemic. Without access to protected, paid sick days, workers have been forced to choose between going to work sick, or not getting paid, and in some cases losing their jobs.
Workers have had to fight for access to appropriate, effective protective equipment, COVID-safe practices at work, paid sick leave and respect for their basic health and safety rights. However, these problems existed before the pandemic and have resulted in millions of deaths each year from work-related injuries and diseases. Every year, approximately 1000 Canadian workers and more than 2.7 million workers around the world die because of an injury or an exposure that happens at work.
We do not yet know the long-term effects and impact of this virus. Evidence from across the country shows that the virus and now its variants are spreading at work, not only in health care settings but also in factories, meat works, warehouses, schools, offices, transportation and other sectors. Every worker should be able to go to work without fear. Paid sick leave and strict workplace protections save lives.
As the pandemic remains and workers continue to keep food on our tables, essential goods in our cupboards, teach our children, care for our loved ones and keep essential institutions running the need for permanent, long term support for communities grows. Change must happen now while people need it most. On this Day of Mourning and as a starting point Canada’s unions call on all governments to immediately introduce or expand paid sick leave to ensure workers aren’t required to go to work sick.
