Canadian Labour Congress
January, 2002
To: Members of the CLC Executive Council, Ranking
Officers of Affiliated Unions, Federations of Labour and Labour
Councils
Dear Sisters and Brothers:
Re: CLC National Day of Mourning, April 28, 2002
Chances are you have started to organize observances
for the CLC National Day of Mourning for Workers Killed and Injured
on the Job. Since 1984, when the CLC Executive Council first endorsed
an annual event, the Day of Mourning has grown into a worldwide
event observed by unions, central labour bodies, labour councils,
municipalities and national governments. The Day of Mourning is
observed in nearly a hundred countries worldwide; it has been formally
endorsed by the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions
(ICFTU) and several countries are in the process of formally recognizing
the Day, following Canada's example in 1991.
This year the Canadian Labour Congress is suggesting
that observances in Canada take place around the theme " Some Workplace
Deaths are a Crime".
While the theme for your Day of Mourning is a matter
for local and regional conditions, this year marks the 10th anniversary
of the Westray Mine Disaster in Nova Scotia. Unions are asked to
remember this tragedy which occurred on May 9th 1992 killing and
entombing 26 miners. It Is also 3 years since the tragic death of
17 year old David Ellis who died from Employer negligence after
only one day on the job at a bakery. NDP MP Bev Desjarlais is once
again sponsoring a private members bill to make corporations and
their officials pay for corporate crimes which cause workplace injury
or death. Our theme, and Canada wide attention on this issue, may
help wake government to the need for legislative protection for
workers and punishment for those who put us at risk.
Day of Mourning materials, including a poster, are
available from the CLC. We expect to be able to fulfill all orders
in time for use in late April, provided they are received by the
CLC by March 31, 2001.
In Solidarity,
Hassan Yussuff, Executive Vice-President
CLC
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