British Columbia Federation of Labour

Today is the International Day of Mourning. Held in 100 countries around the world, it's a day to reflect on the terrible toll of workers killed and injured on the job.

In BC last year 121 workers died, including six young workers. These numbers do not reflect the real impact on family members who are left behind or on those who have to look after seriously injured workers.

"Families of killed and injured workers have worked hard to find a measure of justice by demanding the government do more to make workers safe. These families have met with government Ministers and made public appeals to reach out to their communities for support," says Federation President Jim Sinclair. "We should all look to the example of these brave families and commit to take action that will help prevent workplace deaths and injuries."

"The truth is we haven't made enough progress in the prevention of workplace deaths and accidents," says Jim Sinclair. "The Liberal government refuses to take workplace safety seriously. Instead of taking action they reject concrete measures that would make workers safer."
Liberal government inaction and delay on worker safety includes most recently:

• On April 8, the Liberal government rejected or sidestepped almost all of the recommendations made by a Coroner's Jury which investigated a van crash that     killed three farmworkers;

• Giving in to pressure from some employers, simple regulations that would make late night retail workers safer have been repeatedly postponed;

• A year and a half after three men were killed at a Langley mushroom farm, the WCB has still not completed its investigation; and

• Earlier this month the United Steelworkers union was forced to launch a private prosecution against Weyerhaeuser in the 2004 death of a sawmill worker in New Westminster. Police recommended charges be laid, but provincial prosecutors did not pursue criminal charges.
"The provincial government needs to make a serious commitment to worker safety through training, safety inspections and by prosecuting employers who wilfully ignore worker safety," added Sinclair.

For more information: Evan Stewart, Director of Communications (604) 220-3095.