Every year, on April 28, the National Day of Mourning, people come together remember the workers who lost their lives or were injured while working. Day of Mourning ceremonies are taking place in: Bathurst, Edmundston, Fredericton, Miramichi, Moncton and Saint John.
“Today, not only do we remember those who have fallen and support their families, but we also come together to show our dedication towards improving health and safety provisions and their enforcement,” says Euclide Haché, the Vice-President responsible for the New Brunswick Federation of Labour’s Occupational Health, Safety and Environment Committee. “Every New Brunswicker deserves to come home at the end of their work day healthy and safe.”
In 2017, approximately 11,000 New Brunswickers were injured on the job while 15 people lost their lives as a result of a workplace injury or disease.
The New Brunswick Federation of Labour has a long history of working to improve health and safety at work and working to make sure that benefits received by injured workers are a fair compensation. It its submission to the WorkSafeNB Ministerial Task Force, the New Brunswick Federation of Labour called for:
-Restoring balance at WorkSafeNB between the interests of employers and workers;
-Eliminate the punitive three-day waiting period to receive benefits;
-Improve governance practices at WorkSafeNB;
-Balance the composition of the board of Directors at WorkSafeNB;
-Keep the Appeals Tribunal independent.
April 28th was first established in Canada as the National Day of Mourning for workers killed, injured or disabled on the job. It was recognized as such by the Government of Canada in the year 2000, at the urging of the Canadian Labour Congress. April 28th commemorates the date that the first comprehensive workers’ compensation legislation was adopted in Canada. It was adopted on April 28, 1914 by the province of Ontario. April 28th is now recognized in countries throughout the world as a day to remember, reflect and renew efforts to keep workers safe and healthy.
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For information, please contact:
Euclide Haché
NBFL Vice-President responsible for,
Occupational Health, Safety and Environment Committee
(506) 546-8881
Patrick Colford
NBFL President
(506) 857-2125 (work) / (506) 381-8969 (cell)