Day of Mourning highlights rights
to health and safety for workers
Tamara Hynd photo
Alex Hanson, USW Local 9346 President of spoke at the Day of Mourning April 28th ceremony held at Centennial Square in Sparwood.
TAMARA HYND
Elk Valley Herald Reporter
SPARWOOD- Steve Kallies, Occupational Health and Safety Chair for USW Local 9346 opened the Day of Mourning ceremony at Centennial Square next to the pillar dedicated to coal miners who have lost their lives in the local mines.
The Day of Mourning commemorates workers, who have been killed, injured, or suffered illness as a result of their job. In British Columbia last year, 149 workers died and 104,710 were injured or became ill.
It’s about all workers. Alex Hanson, USW President of Local 9346 stated, “We can all work together with safety. Workers are building our current society putting the nuts and bolts together to create our civilization.” Hanson also congratulated Elkview Operations for it’s safest year in 2012 with B crew being long-term injury free for 10 years.
Hanson and Fernie Mayor Mary Giuliano spoke about the tragic deaths and injuries of Bangladesh workers.
Hanson noted, “An eight story building collapsed (in Bangladesh).
A
nd those workers were complaining prior. Go home to your closet and check the labels to see where your clothes were made. We need global health and safety standards to prevent permanent injuries. The pressure to turn a profit is too high.”
The eight-storey Rana Plaza building collapsed April 24, a day after large cracks appeared in the building and police ordered an evacuation. The owner of the building is accused of telling tenants it was safe despite the order. In addition to the 433 confirmed dead, police report 149 people are still missing in what has become the worst disaster for Bangladesh’s $20 billion-a-year garment industry.
Other guest speakers included Councillor Sonny Saad for Mayor Halko and BC NDP Candidate Norma Blissett. Pastor Rick Corak closed the ceremony with a prayer.
