May 4, 2012

The Jack Poole Plaza was lined with construction workers wearing hard hats with a simple, yet solemn, sticker that read: Day of Mourning, April 28. The ceremony was organized to remember the 142 workers who died from workplace injury or illness in 2011, and featured speeches from Michael Lovett, an injured young worker, and Rose Lachnit, mother of a young worker who died on the job.

Jim Sinclair, President of the BC Federation of Labour, also spoke about the recent unsafe work practise where Asbestos contractor Arthur Moore exposed workers to the dangerous material without the proper equipment or training.

"My friends, it's clear we applaud good employers." Sinclair said.

After the emotional ceremony, DC38 Business Manager and Secretary Treasurer Patrick Byrne picked up on Sinclair's speech about Moore.

"Willingly exposing workers to unsafe working conditions such as Arthur Moore did when he exposed workers, some as young as fourteen years old to asbestos, should be treated no differently than someone who takes another's life through an act of violence," said Byrne.

"Arthur Moore wasn't charged under Bill C-45, a bill that attached criminal liability to anyone who was found guilty of knowingly exposing workers to unsafe work conditions where workers were either seriously injured or killed on the job, instead Moore only went to jail for two months for contempt after disregarding an order of the court to change his work place practices."

Furthermore, Byrne said, "We will continue to lobby our politicians until this issue gets the attention that it deserves."

The Day of Mourning is annually held on April 28 across the country. See more photos from the ceremony, as well as last year's story.