(Winnipeg) – Today, Manitoba’s unions marked the National Day of Mourning, a day to honour workers who have been killed or suffered injuries or illness at work, with a walk from the Union Centre to Winnipeg’s Memorial Park followed by a ceremony in front of the Workers Memorial.

Every year, over 1,000 Canadian workers lose their lives as a result of workplace injuries or illnesses. Sadly, 14 Manitoba workers died last year from injuries and illnesses that they suffered at work. Unions also honoured 6 other workers who died in previous years but whose deaths were not recognized as work-related until now.

“Every worker deserves to make it home safely to their loved ones at the end of every shift,” said Kevin Rebeck, president of the Manitoba Federation of Labour. “Each one of these 20 worker deaths represents a family member, friend and co-worker who never made it home or spent their final years battling an occupational disease. While today is about remembering workers who we have lost and workers who have had their lives forever changed because of injuries or illnesses, it is also about re-committing ourselves to making workplaces safer to prevent these tragic losses in the future.”

Rebeck added that Manitoba has made a lot of progress over the years in making our workplaces safer—largely due to the advocacy of workers and unions—but the fact that workers continue to lose their lives every year to workplace injuries and illnesses means there is more work to do.

“Manitoba’s unions are committed to making work safer and healthier for everyone,” said Rebeck. “We have made tremendous strides in protecting workers on the job, but that does not mean our work is done.”

Rebeck noted that the provincial government is currently undertaking a review of Manitoba’s Workers Compensation Act and encouraged the government to make changes to the Act to better support workers who suffer psychological injuries at work. While all physical workplace injuries are covered under the WCB Act, only certain types of psychological injuries, primarily those resulting from traumatic events, qualify for WCB support. This leaves other types of workplace injuries, such as those resulting from burnout and extreme stress, ineligible for WCB coverage.