Fallen Workers Remembered

Tribute also paid to murdered CUPE 500 member.

April 28, 2008, was the 24th anniversary of the National Day of Mourning in Canada, a time to remember workers who have been injured, made ill or killed as a result of doing their job. In Manitoba, a number of events were held to mark the day.

The Safe Workers of Tomorrow Annual Leaders Walk took place with a march down Broadway from the Union Centre to the Legislature. The ceremony at the Legislature included speeches from Minister of Labour, Nancy Allan and Workers Compensation Board Chairperson Tom Farrell.

Students from Sisler and St. Norbert high schools were also in attendance and several of them gave short speeches about the importance of health and safety on the job for new, young workers. The event was well attended, with a number of Cabinet Ministers and NDP MLAs in attendance, as well as some Opposition MLAs.

The MFL's traditional Candlelight Vigil was held in the evening. Highlights of the evening included a performance by the Winnipeg Labour Choir, and the lighting of candles for the 40 workers who died at work in Manitoba in 2007.

Also heard during the vigil were a number of speakers from the MFL's Health and Safety and Workers Compensation committees. Other speakers included Donna MacDonald from the Winnipeg Labour Council, and Marilyn Brick, the MLA for St. Norbert, and MFL President Darlene Dziewit.

In her speech at the event, President Dziewit said that "From 1984 until the end of 2006, some 19,805 workers were killed on the job in Canada. Over 18 million workers were injured in that same time period. 2005 was a particularly deadly year, with 1097 workers losing their lives in our country.

"If this kind of carnage were caused by terrorist attacks, one can only wonder at the importance and prominence that would have been placed upon these deaths. But, because they occurred at work, there will be some articles written and news stories told. There will be events and vigils held. But tomorrow, the stories will be put away, and it will be once again up to those few stalwarts, who live and breathe health and safety to keep reminding the rest of us about this horror, for a horror it is."

Immediately following the Day of Mourning Vigil, there was a tribute held by CUPE Local 500 to honour Shannon Scromeda, the young woman killed by her partner the previous week. President also spoke at that event.

"I did not know Shannon Scromeda," Dziewit said, "but I'm told that Shannon was a loving and vibrant mother, daughter and worker. She was also, I'm told, a budding CUPE activist. She had also begun to volunteer as a political activist, as well. In short, Shannon was the kind of young, female worker I most look forward to meeting. We need bright young trade unionists and political activists like Shannon if our movement is to survive and flourish. And now she is gone.

"We will never know what Shannon might have done in and with her life, if she was not murdered by her partner in her own home, in the one place that she should have been and felt safest. And I know that it is next to impossible to make sense of this unspeakable horror.

"But Sisters and Brothers, we cannot ever forget Shannon. If there is anything positive whatsoever that can be achieved by massive tragedy, it will be found in not forgetting what happened.

"We have to stand up, to confront abuse and to name it wherever and whenever it exists. Spousal abuse is never about love. It is all and only about power and control. And it cannot continue in a just society."