COVID-19 brings heightened importance for workplace safety on National Day of Mourning

PRINCE GEORGE – Union activists in Prince George and throughout the North Region are marking the National Day of Mourning on April 28th with a virtual candlelight vigil this year.

These virtual gatherings are happening across the country to align with public health directives that are keeping essential workers safe through the COVID-19 crisis.

Every year more than 1,000 workers lose their lives in the workplace, and many more work-related deaths aren’t counted by our workers’ compensation system. In British Columbia alone, 140 people lost their lives in 2019 as a result of a workplace injury or disease.

“Just even having our frontline workers working and putting themselves in harm’s way every day to go to work, looking after our communities, and looking after our families. It’s a different world we’re living in right now,” said Matt Baker, Executive Board Member for the North Central Labour Council. “This year’s a little bit different as we’re doing everything online.”