Thirty people gathered yesterday at the Upper Queen’s Park band shell in Stratford.
They were there to mark the annual ‘Day of Mourning’ for workers killed or injured on the job.
Kim Marshall is a Workers Health and Safety training rep and she addressed the crowd.
She says companies are increasingly using contests and other gimmicks to pressure people into not reporting injuries.
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Marshall spoke about widows in Sarnia who lost their husbands from asbestos poisoning but can’t access the benefits they are entitled to.
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She says if you do get hurt on the job make sure you take care of it.
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Unifor National Coordinator Ken Bondy also addressed the crowd.
He says hard won health and safety standards are slipping.
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He says human life is more important than saving a buck.
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He says health and safety standards are slipping and if it’s not reversed, more people will die.
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This year also marks the 100th anniversary of the WSIB.
Stratford and District Labour Council President Kim Kent focused her remarks on the importance of injury pay and insurance for sick or injured workers.