Pandemic doesn't keep local labour from marking National Day of Mourning
For a second year, the COVID-19 pandemic has prevented the local labour movement from gathering in large numbers to mark the National Day of Mourning.
Article content
For a second year, the COVID-19 pandemic prevented the local labour movement from gathering in large numbers to mark the National Day of Mourning.
But with the virus continuing to have a tremendous impact on the lives of workers, leaving many in the health-care sector exhausted and countless others out of work due to lockdown restrictions and stay-at-home orders, this day of remembrance was still important to acknowledge, labour leaders said.
tap here to see other videos from our team.
Pandemic doesn't keep local labour from marking National Day of Mourning Back to video
“We have never, ever had to deal with anything such as this,” said Jeff McFadden, president of Unifor Local 127 while at the Day of Mourning monument on Grand Avenue West in Chatham Wednesday.
COVID-19 has put the issue of workplace safety “under stronger microscope,” said Frank Niehus, chair of the local Unifor Labour Cabinet, who joined McFadden at the monument to lay a wreath in honour of workers who have died or been injured in the workplace.
Between last year’s National Day of Mourning and Wednesday, Unifor had 19 members killed on the job, with seven of them dying from COVID, McFadden said.
He said there is also other occupational diseases, such as cancer, which fall under the health and safety improvements that Unifor continues to fight for in workplaces.
“We’re continuing on fighting to get improved health and safety in all workplaces for all workers,” McFadden said.
McFadden said COVID is having an enormous impact on those working in the health and long-term care sectors, resulting in burnout due to staff shortages that prevent the overworked staff from much time off.
“I give kudos to all of our workers for fighting through this,” McFadden said.
Niehus said he doesn’t believe offering free training to personal support workers is the answer to this dilemma, despite the provincial government’s commitment to training up to 8,200 in the coming months. Prior to the pandemic, he noted, many were already leaving the industry to try to find a less stressful, full-time job instead of working part time at two or more care homes.
“If you could get full-time hours, I’m sure it would entice more people to stay in the field,” he said.
Niehus added there also needs to be an improvement in hiring more staff to elevate the minimum level of care for long-term care residents.
The Chatham-Kent Labour Council held a virtual ceremony Wednesday, posting a video dedicated to workers on its Facebook page.
The message cited those working on the front line in the community providing health care to the vulnerable, educating children, providing services, and making and delivering products to keep Canadian families comfortable and safe.
“Their safety must be our top priority,” the council said. “The complexity of the risks of this virus are not completely known, but we must have the capacity and be committed to respond rapidly and modify the way we do business to keep them safe.”
The labour council thanked workers for their commitment to serve the community during these unprecedented times. The council also thanked employers that helped keep their staff save by providing personal protective equipment and quickly updating practices and procedures to address and ease the evolving threats from the virus.
Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion. Please keep comments relevant and respectful. Comments may take up to an hour to appear on the site. You will receive an email if there is a reply to your comment, an update to a thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information.