April 28 is the National Day of Mourning. On that day, we will join over 100 countries in remembering those who have lost their lives due to work-related causes.
Every year, people across the globe die as a result of unsafe working conditions, insufficient health and safety measures and protection equipment, and poorly implemented policies. All too often, these deaths could have been avoided. In Canada, hundreds of workplace fatalities are still recorded.
Despite important improvements to workplace safety standards over the last century — thanks in large part to continued union efforts — much work remains to be done to ensure that all workers are adequately protected against preventable work-related accidents or illness.
At CBSA, new and continued challenges — such as increased reliance on untrained personnel, insufficient staffing, and new workplace risks associated with emerging detention duties — highlight the need for workers to keep pushing for adequate training, policies and protective equipment to mitigate potentially hazardous situations. Stronger provisions around toxic workplace culture and bullying from management are also needed to ensure the mental and physical health and safety of our members.
The Customs and Immigration Union attaches great importance to its members’ health and safety, and we will continue to do everything we can to protect them from harm. Given the dangers that so many workers are still confronting today, let us all observe a moment of silence at 11:00 a.m. on the National Day of Mourning.
