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December 22, 2015

National Day of Mourning – April 28th/Jour de deuil national – 28 avril

Day of Mourning message from International Vice President Tom Reid

Greetings:

The National Day of Mourning, held annually on April 28^th, was officially recognized by the federal government in 1991, eight years after the day of remembrance was launched by the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC), and has since spread to at least 80 countries around the world. This day is a tribute to those men and women who have died as a result of a workplace illness or accident.

The IBEW was originally formed by workers who wanted to improve safety in their workplace. Our union was formed on the need for safety at a time when 1 in 2 electrical workers were being killed on the job every day; even our own founding President Henry Miller died from a workplace incident. Today, safety continues to be a main focus of our Local Unions mandate; safety is paramount to the IBEW!

With respect to this year’s National Day of Mourning, the theme on April 28^th is “Stop the Pandemic at Work”. Right now, millions of workers who have been deemed essential are risking their wellbeing every day and are working tirelessly to keep our country running during this unprecedented time. Many of our IBEW members fall into this category and continue to provide critical services which include healthcare, utilities, telecommunications, railroads, government and construction, just to name a few. We must ensure that front-line workers have the protective equipment they need, and the training to use it safely. We must also ensure that those who have not been deemed essential stay home and adhere to physical distancing regulations. By doing this we reduce the transmission of this virus and help keep essential workers safe.

No worker should die from their job; workers deserve to arrive home safely at the end of their workday but too many workers are dying from work. Workplace accidents and illnesses are preventable and should never be seen as “just part of the job”. Workers need to be reminded that they have the right to know about the hazards in their workplace and receive the training they need to be able to do their jobs safely. They have the right to participate in decisions that could affect their health and safety and most importantly they have the right to refuse work that could endanger their health and safety or that of others.

April 28^th is the day we remember those whose lives were lost and those whose lives were forever changed because of something that happened in their workplace. It is also the day when we resolve to make every workplace a safe and healthy place to earn a living.

The global COVID-19 pandemic has fundamentally changed the way we live and work and therefore will change the way we hold vigils and ceremonies this year. On Tuesday, April 28^th, 2020, we ask that you mark the day by lighting a candle in your home and posting a photo to social media with hashtag #WorkersDayofMourning and #StopthePandemicAtWork. Frontline workers are also encouraged to share a photo in your uniform or protective apparel using the same hashtags. While we can’t meet in person, we can hold virtual memorials and share a moment of silence over video or teleconference. We must continue to bring visibility to the importance of commemorating the National Day of Mourning. We must insist that all levels of government do more to enforce existing health and safety laws and vigorously prosecute violations when a worker is killed or seriously injured.

We owe it to the families who have lost their loved ones to preventable workplace accidents and illnesses to do better for today’s workers. Everyone deserves to return home to their loved ones at the end of the day.

In solidarity,

Tom Reid

International Vice President

Bonjour,

Le Jour de deuil national célébré chaque année le 28 avril a officiellement été reconnu par le gouvernement fédéral en 1991, huit ans après l’adoption du jour du Souvenir par le Congrès du travail du Canada (CTC). Le Jour de deuil national a depuis été adopté dans près de 80 pays à travers le monde. C’est une journée pour rendre hommage aux femmes et hommes qui sont décédés ou devenus malades en raison de leur travail.

La FIOE a été fondée par des travailleurs qui désiraient améliorer la sécurité sur les lieux de travail. Notre syndicat a été créé pour répondre au besoin de sécurité, car un travailleur en électricité sur deux perdait la vie sur les lieux de travail tous les jours ; notre président fondateur Henry Miller est même décédé à la suite d’un accident sur le lieu de travail. Aujourd’hui, la sécurité demeure la priorité du mandat des sections locales. La sécurité est primordiale pour la FIOE !

En lien avec le Jour de deuil national de cette année, le thème pour ce 28 avril est : Stop the Pandemic at Work (stoppons la pandémie au travail). En ce moment, des millions de travailleuses et travailleurs qui sont jugés essentiels risquent leur bien-être et travaillent sans relâche pour assurer le bon fonctionnement de notre pays durant cette période sans précédent. Plusieurs membres de la FIOE font partie de cette catégorie et continuent d’offrir des services critiques tels que : les soins de santé, les services publics, les télécommunications, les chemins de fer, le gouvernement et la construction pour n’en nommer que quelques-uns. Nous devons nous assurer que nos travailleurs de première ligne ont le matériel de protection dont ils ont besoin et reçoivent la formation nécessaire pour l’utiliser en toute sécurité. Nous devons également nous assurer que les travailleurs jugés non essentiels restent à la maison et respectent les consignes de la distanciation physique. De cette façon, nous réduisons la transmission du virus et assurons la sécurité des travailleurs essentiels.

Aucun travailleur ne devrait perdre la vie à cause de son travail ; les travailleurs méritent de rentrer chez eux en toute sécurité à la fin de leur journée, mais de nombreux travailleurs décèdent à cause de leur travail. Les accidents et les maladies liés au travail sont évitables et ne devraient jamais être considérés comme : « ça fait partie du travail ». Il faut leur rappeler qu’ils ont le droit de connaître les dangers dans leur environnement de travail et de recevoir la formation nécessaire qui leur permet de travailler en toute sécurité. Ils ont le droit de participer aux décisions qui peuvent avoir des conséquences sur leur santé et sécurité, et surtout, ils ont le droit de refuser un travail qui peut mettre leur santé et sécurité en danger ou ceux des autres.

Le 28 avril est la journée pour se souvenir de celles et ceux qui ont perdu la vie et de celles et ceux qui ont été bouleversés à jamais en raison d’un évènement survenu dans leur milieu de travail. C’est également une journée que nous prenons la résolution de faire que chaque milieu de travail est sécuritaire et sain pour gagner notre vie.

La pandémie de la COVID-19 a fondamentalement changé notre manière de vivre et notre façon de travailler et va donc changer la manière dont nous allons observer une minute de silence et la manière dont nous allons tenir des cérémonies cette année. Le mardi 28 avril 2020, on vous demande de souligner cette journée en allumant une bougie dans votre maison et de publier une photo sur les réseaux sociaux en utilisant les mots-clics #WorkersDayofMourning et #StopthePandemicAtWork. On encourage également les travailleurs de première ligne de partager une photo en uniforme ou en vêtements de protection en utilisant les mêmes mots-clics. Bien que nous ne puissions pas nous rencontrer, nous pouvons tenir des commémorations virtuelles et partager un moment de silence par le biais d’une vidéo ou d’une téléconférence. Nous devons continuer à rendre visible l’importance de commémorer le Jour de deuil national. Nous devons sensibiliser davantage tous les paliers du gouvernement de faire respecter les lois existantes relatives à la santé et sécurité et de poursuivre vigoureusement toutes violations associées aux personnels qui sont décédés ou gravement blessés.

Nous le devons aux familles qui ont perdu leurs proches à la suite des accidents évitables et de maladies relatives au travail, nous devons faire mieux pour eux. Tout le monde mérite de rentrer chez soi et de retrouver leurs proches à la fin de la journée.

En toute solidarité,

Tom Reid

Vice-président international

We’re in this Together

In Praise of Public Servants

Blog Post shared with permission from Pink Larkin Lawyers|Avocats

April 2, 2020

BY RONALD PINK, Q.C. and RAYMOND LARKIN, Q.C.

In our career of some 90 years collectively we have represented workers in all walks of life and we have had the pleasure of seeing some of the best and not so best of many people.

One thing we keep hearing is this.

“Public servants are over paid, under worked, with the best pensions, etc., etc., etc.”

However, in this time of national and provincial crisis, while the people of Canada are in the throes of a COVID-19 pandemic, there is one constant that stands out – the dedication of the public service across Canada.

The public service includes a wide range of people – we see our political leaders – Prime Minister and Premier – who are exhibiting model leadership and calm in these trying times. For their confidence and strength, we Canadians should be proud.

However, behind the front lines of the political leaders are thousands and thousands of Canadians who are working tirelessly on our behalf to design and implement the programs and plans that these leaders and governments are implementing. From mail clerks to Deputy Ministers – can you imagine how many public servants are involved in arranging changes to EI programs, making new programs, drafting revisions, and simply trying to arrange for a cheque to be in the mailboxes of Canadians? Imagine the IT personnel, the administrators and clerks, the program designers, the financial analysts – all who are designing these new programs for us. Change doesn’t just happen. It takes thousands of public servants to make it all come together. Nameless, faceless public servants – but all Canadian – and all doing what is best for the rest of us.

Think of the electrical workers in the utility sector who are on the job ensuring that our power plants are running and the electrical grid is reliable and secure so that the electricity we all rely on is getting to our homes, businesses and hospitals.

Then there are hospital workers. We immediately think of doctors and nurses (and we should) but behind the scenes are hundreds of other dedicated individuals who are making the medical systems work for all of us. The CEOs in the administrative suites who attend meeting after meeting, planning for every eventuality, considering every potential disaster, all working to ensure the successful treatment of every patient. The executives and staff who make sure there are enough supplies and equipment to make every visit a success and to ensure that every staff member remains safe. The doctors and nurses and the lab technicians and housekeeping and food service and security staff, who are all working extra shifts to make sure that our hospital visit is safe and successful. The cleaners who are vital to the safety of front line workers and patients alike. Outside the hospitals are all the police officers, paramedics, fire fighters, bus drivers, postal workers and others – all are public servants putting in long days to make sure that we Canadians “get through this”. All the foregoing face considerable pressure, both while at work and when they go home. Are they disease carriers, have they contacted COVID-19 – what is the effect on them – what affect will that have on their livelihood?

The members of the public service working tirelessly on our behalf are too numerous to mention. From the health inspector, to the border security, to the food inspector, public health official and so many more, all working for you and me.

Isn’t it time that we all just stop and remember that in this time of need, we call upon the “silent, behind the scenes, quietly efficient” public servant to protect us in this crisis.

In the end we must say to them “we have your backs now and into the future”!

Original Post can be found by clicking here.

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