Across Canada, April 28th has been designated the Day of Mourning.
Every year workers, families, employers, and communities come together at ceremonies held around the province to remember those who have lost their lives to work-related incidents or occupational disease, and renew our commitment to creating healthy and safe workplaces. This year, and this close to the Day of Mourning, the United Steelworkers Local 1-1937 lost three members in a tragic workplace incident. It’s a stark reminder why workers unite to enforce safety policies and rules at workplaces across Canada, to ensure that these events never happen; or when they do, corporations are held accountable to the decisions if they are found to have put their employees in harm’s way. This year, it will be the 25th anniversary of Westray, the single largest and longest campaign for worker’s rights by Steelworkers in workplaces across our nation. On May 9th, 1992 at 5:20 AM, the hellish mix of methane and coal dust that had been allowed to accumulate in the Westray mine, exploded. The disaster that followed killed 26 workers underground in less than a minute, 19 of those bodies were never recovered. Over the last 25 years, the United Steelworkers have campaigned to change regulations and criminal law to hold those accountable for their negligence, leading to laws like the Westray Act, and Bill C-45, but that wasn’t enough. Sixteen years later, the Steelworkers were not impressed with what had been accomplished to that date in enforcing the law, and pushed the Government to hold corporations liable for criminal negligence. Quoted from Steve Hunt, USW District 3 Director, “Kill a worker, go to jail, should be the rule.” Today, Steelworkers across Canada are applauding the efforts of our Brothers and Sisters in improving the laws, as we have seen several charges laid and supervisors prosecuted in the last few years. Holding corporations accountable is paramount moving forward, but we have a lot of work left to do. This morning, we handed out “Safety Is Ours” stickers, Day of Mourning armbands, the book “Hell’s History” and a newsletter. Each one of these items has a purpose. The sticker seems simple, but it’s the words on the sticker that mean much more. We have never seen such a huge rise of serious safety issues in such a short amount of time at HVC. Regardless of how many times we have brought the issues up to management, it continues to be the Company’s position that they don’t exist, they aren’t happening and/or they aren’t that bad. We don’t believe this for a second. We have launched major inquires on truck overloading, back injuries, equipment failure, road conditions and other serious outstanding issues. With this type of attitude, it has to be our responsibility to bring up safety concerns, refuse unsafe work and report unsafe conditions. Safety has to be ours. The armbands show solidarity, both for our fallen Brothers and Sisters killed on the job and for the workers who fight to protect those rights. It’s a harsh reminder that almost every day in Canada, an employee is killed on a worksite. The numbers never seem to change, and it cannot be accepted. The book is a history of Westray, the fights and the future. It’s important information to read and to understand. It’s also interesting to note that when our Brothers and Sisters in the Coal Patch tried to hand this book out on their site, they were denied. The Company stated that it hurt their image and they (USW) must have bribed the little boy on the front page with jelly beans. It’s extremely disappointing to see this type of attitude, when the work our Union has put forward has helped form the laws that protect our friends and coworkers, Brothers and Sisters across Canada. It’s typical of Corporations these days. The last portion is the newsletter. This is a direct response to the letter sent out from the Mine Manager, which stated that our safety numbers have not increased. This is not true, as the stats show a drastic increase on all safety reports, sometimes 3-4 times what they were in our worst year (2010) and already worse than last year (2016). Please read the stats, and let this remind you that what is said isn’t always true, and we all must do our research prior to making statements. It also has information on what to do when you are injured at work such as the filing of First Aid reports and WCB claims. As we continue to force the Company to be accountable to the rules, policies, legislation's and laws, we ask all of you to continue supporting those who fight for you. Shop stewards, safety reps, and those who stand up to speak out. Stand beside them, they are speaking up to protect your rights. In solidarity, United Steelworkers Local 7619, Representing Employees at Highland Valley Copper “Safety is Ours” |
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October 2018
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