On Tuesday April 28th, we once again set aside a day to remember all of our own who have fallen while on the job. We give them this day because they gave us their future.
 
Workers' Memorial Day was started by the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) in 1984, the Canadian Labour Congress declared an annual day of remembrance in 1985 on April 28, which is the anniversary of a comprehensive Workers Compensation Act, passed in 1914. In 1991, the Canadian Parliament passed an Act respecting a National Day of Mourning for persons killed or injured in the workplace; making April 28, an official Workers’ Mourning Day.

Though statistics for 2008 are not in yet, in 2007 1,055 people lost their lives at work in Canada. That's approximately four people every work day. These people are dead because their workplace was not safe. Four people every day who never get to go home again because their employer failed to ensure they were safe at work. In addition to these workers documented as killed while at work, there are many others where the death goes unreported if they die of an illness unrecognized as an occupational disease.

As railroad workers, we have had to bury many of our friends and colleagues.  We have also had to deal with injuries causing disabilities, time lost from gainful employment and permanent impairment. We have attended memorials and services far too many times, and I will tell you that no amount of heartfelt speeches will affect you as greatly as a single tear on the cheek of a child who lost their parent. There will never be any self congratulatory messages about how safe a workplace is, that will erase the image of a widow wracked with grief. 

Personally, I will carry Kim Kinakin's spoken remembrance of her husband, Gary, within my heart forever. Melanie Boyko's emotional words outlining Shawn Ormshaw's last moments have been indelibly etched on my soul.

We each have been touched and often deeply affected, by workplace accidents and we must all work together to eliminate them.  We are in truth, our brother and sister's keepers and we must never forget this.  We must understand it, we must believe it and we must follow it. As has been said so many times, our safety is far too important to leave in the hands of management.

On April 28th, take a moment to stop and remember.  Remember friends who have been injured and remember friends are no longer with us.  Remember them well and make a commitment.  Commit to yourself, to your fellow workers and to your family... that you will work safely each and every day.  That you will concentrate on doing your job safely and that you will watch out for your brothers and sisters.  Commit to remember this every day as you start your shift and accomplish it... one day at a time.

Together we truly can make fatality free railroading a reality.

Stay safe, stay strong, stay united.
Bill Brehl
President, TCRC MWED