CUPE mourns the passing of Brother Wayne Harland, member of CUPE 500 at the City of Winnipeg. He passed away on Tuesday, January 31, while delivering mail as part of his work for the city.
Wayne’s passing is the first workplace fatality in the CUPE family in 2017. Last year, we saw far too many CUPE members perish in workplace fatalities. We mourn:
- Paul Barao, of CUPE 2544 in Oakville, Ontario, passed away January 29, 2016.
- Thierry Leroux, of CUPE 5153 in Chicoutimi, Québec, lost his life on February 13, 2016.
- Claude Davidson, of CUPE 3333 in Longueil, Québec died on February 20, 2016.
- Members of CUPE Nova Scotia lost acting President Mike McNeil on March 12, 2016.
- In Vancouver, BC, CUPE 1004 members lost member Jody Taylor on March 31, 2016.
- Nicole Leblanc, of CUPE 25 in Cobourg, Ontario, passed away on September 29, 2016.
- CUPE 30 members in Edmonton lost Saturino Sonson on November 1, 2016.
We will honour fallen members in a special ceremony on April 28th, the Day of Mourning, as we do every year.
“On behalf of CUPE members across the country, I would like to extend our deepest condolences to family, friends and co-workers of Brother Wayne, as well as to members of all the CUPE locals affected in the past year,” said CUPE National President Mark Hancock. “We know how devastating a workplace death can be on surviving co-workers. Our hearts and solidarity are with you.”
CUPE National Secretary-Treasurer Charles Fleury also offered condolences.
“We are always deeply saddened to hear about the passing of any worker,” said Fleury. “The entire CUPE family mourns with you, and we re-commit to making our workplaces healthier and safer.”
While CUPE celebrated its first proclaimed “Year of Health and Safety” in 2016, with special programs, campaigns and educational training to make our workplaces safer last year, health and safety continues to be our concern every year, month and day.