Activists are asked to join the New Brunswick Federation of Labour (NBFL) for a virtual Day of Mourning ceremony. Virtual gatherings are happening across the country to align with public health directives that are keeping us all safe throughout the COVID-19 crisis. The NBFL is hosting a Facebook Live event on Tuesday April 28th at 12 noon to remember the workers who lost their lives or were injured while working. This year’s ceremony will also focus on ensuring that front line workers have access to what they need to stay safe at work. The Facebook live event can be accessed on the NBFL Facebook page @NewBrunswickFederationOfLabour.
“The global COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way we live and work,” says Daniel Legere, President of the New Brunswick Federation of Labour. “While everyone is affected by this crisis, front line workers like grocery store and pharmacy staff, truck drivers, garbage collectors, janitors, nursing home workers, first responders, health care professionals and other front line staff are putting their lives at risk so the rest of us can safely stay at home. This year’s Day of Mourning ceremony will be highlighting workers’ rights to protect themselves.”
The NBFL is calling on governments and employers to provide workers with the protective equipment that they need and adequate training on how to use it safely. Workers have a right to participate in the decisions that could affect their health and safety at work and have a right to refuse unsafe work.
COVID-19 is also changing how we, as a society, define what is an essential worker. All workers should be paid a liveable wage and have access to paid sick leave.
In 2019, 17 New Brunswickers lost their lives as a result of a workplace injury or disease.
April 28th was first established in Canada as the National Day of Mourning for workers killed, injured or disabled on the job at the urging of the Canadian Labour Congress. It was recognized as such by the Government of Canada in the year 1991 and in New Brunswick in the year 2000. It is now commemorated in more than 100 countries.
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For information, please contact:
Daniel Legere
NBFL President
(506) 381-8969 (cell)