sree, g Ss Cah cx New Westminster & District Labour Council Chartered by the Canadian Labour Congress 20a cooNe™ March 14, 2009 Rick Green, Mayor Langley Township 20338 65 Avenue Langley, BC V2¥ 311 Dear Mayor Green & Members of Council: ‘Over 65,000 working men and women are affiliated through their union to the New Westminster & District Labour Council. Asa chartered body of the Canadian Labour Congress, the Labour Council represents the voice of working people on community issues and co-ordinates activities with our members in the communities where they live and/or work. Our region includes your community along with thirteen others from Burnaby and Delta (Boundary Road) east to the City of Langley and District of Maple Ridge. We are writing today on behalf of our members and their families, to request your Council declare April 28th as the "Day of Mourning for Workers Killed and Injured on the Job" in your community. We ask that Council and staff observe one minute of silence in their respective workplaces at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, April 28. The 11:00 a.m. time of observance is recognized by thousands of working people and their employers across Canada every year. We also ask that your Council observe one minute of silence during the evening Council meeting on or before Tuesday, April 28". This year marks the 25" Anniversary since the Canadian Labour Congress first introduced the annual day of remembrance for workers killed and injured on the job. April 28h was chosen as the day of remembrance to honour the date in which the first comprehensive Workers' Compensation Act (Ontario 1914) in Canada passed third reading. In 1991, the Federal government passed the Workers’ Mourning Day Act (Bill C223) into law declaring ‘the day of April 28th shall be respected as the day of official recognition’. The Province of British Columbia proclaimed the day of recognition in 1989. ‘There will be workplace observances and events in communities across Canada on April 28th to remember the hundreds of workers killed in workplaces and the thousands of workers who suffer from workplace related injury or disease. The community events are a time to remember those we have lost, raise awareness of the tragedy of workplace death, illness and injury and recommit ourselves to fight for the living. ‘This year the Labour Council will join with the BC Federation of Labour and the Vancouver & District Labour Council at 7:30 am on Tuesday, April 28” at the Vancouver Art Gallery. The event poster will be forwarded to ‘your office by fax or e-mail once more details are available. wy #105~3920 Norland Avenue, Burnaby, BC V5G 4X7 Tel: 604-291-9906 «Fax: 404-201-0996 « Ema: mw @thoveable.com hs ‘Website: wewawdlece: AMarch 11, 2009 Page 2 Re: Day of Mourning If your Council continues to issue proclamations, a copy of our Proclamation is enclosed to assist Council in endorsing the "Workers Day of Mourning". A copy of your endorsed proclamation or a reply letter supporting our request is appreciated. On behalf of the workers and families in your community, we thank you for your support. Sincerely, J Carolyn Rige (Chalifoux), Secretary-Treasurer.WHEREAS: AND WHEREAS: AND WHEREAS: AND WHEREAS: AND WHEREAS: ‘AND WHEREAS: Every year, more than 1,000 Canadian workers are killed on. the job. ‘Thousands more are permanently disabled. ‘Hundreds of thousands ae injured. ‘Thousands ofothers de from cancer lung disease, and other ailments caused by exposure to toxic substances at their workplaces April 28 of each year has been chosen by the Canadian Labour Congress as: = a Day of Mourning for these vietims of workplace accidents and disease; = day to remember the maximum sacrifice they have been forced to make in order to eam a living; ‘occupational effective Cor ‘April 28th was proclaimed a "Day of Mourning” by an Act of ‘Parliament on February Ist, 1991. ” ‘workers killed, injured or disabled on the job.