This year marks 34 years since CUPE’s National Health and Safety Committee first proposed the idea of a National Day of Mourning for workers killed or injured on the job.
April 28 was proclaimed by then-National President Jeff Rose at a health and safety conference in early 1985. In the same year, the Canadian Labour Congress and affiliated unions adopted the day across Canada. In many communities, local labour councils bring different unions together in ceremonies to honour workers who have been killed and injured – and to vow to stay vigilant.
On each Day of Mourning, CUPE honours the members who died on the job. Over the past year, CUPE lost the following members:
- Judy Lavallee, Local 1550, Manitoba
- Wayne Harland, Local 500, Manitoba
- Tyson Titanich, Local 2515, Alberta
- Wayne Hornquist, Local 2093, British Columbia
- Lloyd Smith, Local 873, British Columbia
- Robert Boulet, Local 301, Quebec
- James Baragar, Local 1000, Ontario
- Diane Chicoine, Local 416, Ontario
This year, the day of mourning falls on a Saturday. We urge CUPE members to observe a moment of silence and lower flags to half-mast on Friday, April 27. Show your support by prominently displaying our poster at your workplace.
Download the order form or go visit our CUPE Store.