Workers mourned

by Staff Writer - Vernon Morning Star posted Apr 24, 2015 at 1:00 AM

Vernon residents can take part in the National Day of Mourning Tuesday. The half-hour ceremony will take place at 10:30 a.m. at city hall, where the flags will be lowered to half-mast and a moment of silence observed to remember workers who have been injured or lost their lives in the workplace. “In B.C., an average of three workers die each week, 3,200 work injuries are reported every week and 19 workers are permanently disabled every working day,” said Tanya Laing Gahr, the city’s communications co-ordinator. Mayor Akbal Mund and representatives from the joint occupational health and safety committee, CUPE and the Vernon Fire Department will speak at the event. More than 20 years ago, the Canadian Labour Congress declared April 28 a National Day of Mourning for workers who have been killed, or who suffer disease or injury as a result of work.