Regional news

In The Rear-View Mirror: 2018

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by Greg Snider  Edited by Lise Vaugeois

As we say good by to another Christmas season and head in to the heart of our long winter, lets take a moment to look back at the year gone by.
On April 28th the Thunder Bay and District Injured Workers Support Group (TBDIWSG) continued to work with the Thunder Bay and District Labour Council in co-hosting the April 28th Day of Mourning Observance. For the second year in a row the event was held at the Finlandia Club. Correctional Officer Mike Lundy was this year’s guest speaker. He spoke about living with workplace stress and how that can seriously affect one’s life. He talked about how prominent PTSD is among jail guards and first responders. This year we honored four Hydro One workers who died in a helicopter crash and the six workers who were on the Humboldt Bronco’s bus crash. This important event continues to grow the recognition of those who have been killed or injured in the workplace. Continue reading →

Day of Mourning Speach – Sandra Snider, Thunder Bay and District Labour Council

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On this the National Day of Mourning we mourn the dead and fight for the living.  We first gathered in the year 1984 in Sudbury and today we are gathering around the world.

On Behalf of the Thunder Bay and District Labour Council I welcome all of you here on this important day.  I thank the organizing committee for their hard work.

When I think of Injured Workers who have been denied their benefits under the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) and are left in an appeal system without assistance, I am thankful to have my union.  The Ontario Worker Adviser was established to help both unionized and non-unionized workers with appeals.  Under Mike Harris, Unions were removed from the list of those people to be helped by the OWA.  Then in 2015 without the fanfare the Ontario Worker Adviser (OWA) stopped taking any new cases, period.  This program, essential to workers unable to unionize, is administered by the Ontario Government while funded by WSIB. Why does the administrator of this program allow WSIB to under fund this important program.  Continue reading →

WORKER’S (Injured) WEEK WHICH WAS

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April 23rd – MONUMENT TO MOVE ???

At the monthly Thunder Bay and District Labour Council meeting it was announced that the Lakehead Labour Centre had been sold and notice had been given to the Labour Council that they were subject to one month notification to vacate the premises.  This would include the removal of the Injured Workers Monument.  The stature was purchased by the Thunder Bay and District Labour Council and at that time money was set aside for the purpose of moving the monument. The Labour Council is currently developing a list of possible sites for moving the monument.

April 28th

 DAY OF MOURNING FOR WORKERS KILLED AND INJURED IN THE WORKPLACE

The Day of Mourning Ceremony at the Lakehead Labour Centre was a great success   there was over 200 people in attendance.  The event was dedicated to Constable Joe Prevett, James Marchinko and Robert Nelson.  The attendees listened to several speakers including Diana Parker, Ontario Nurses Association and Fred Hahn, President of CUPE Ontario, before going outside the Labour Council to lay a rose at the Injured Workers Monument.

Syd Ryan, President of the Ontario Federation of Labour had a commentary published in the Toronto Star.  This article can be read at http://www.thestar.com/opinion/commentary/2015/04/27/seeking-justice-for-fallen-workers.htmt

TAKING IT TO THE COURT 

The Ontario Network of Injured Worker Groups is running a campaign to raise money for the “Justice for Injured Worker’s Legal Defense Fund”.  This is very important work that is being done for all workers. PLEASE check it out at http://justice4injuredworkers.causevox.com/

 FACT OF THE WEEK

 In his April 28th statement the Ministry of Labour Prevention Officer tried to draw the public’s attention to the high number of Traumatic Fatalities in Ontario.  The problem is that in stating “Over the past ten years, the number of workplace fatalities has not declined in an appreciable way.” He has seriously misrepresented the facts.

FACT  The number of workplace fatalites has increase by 36% over the past 4 to 5 years (source – WSIB stats).

We assume he meant to say that “Over the past ten years, the number of workplace fatalities has increase at a rate unfathomable in any Industrialized State.”

 Upcoming Events

Tuesday, May 5th

Thunder Bay and District Injured Workers Support Group – Board meeting –

6:30pm – March of Dimes

Thursday, May 14th

Bancroft Institute for Studies on Workers Compensation and Workplace Injury – Policy and Research Discussion Series #4.

How Characteristics’ of Workers Compensation Systems affect Doctors?  Comparing Quebec to Ontario.

10:00am to 12:30 pm at the Lakehead Labour Centre

 

Stress Management Workshop

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If you are stressed out by Workers Compensation, WSIB or by live in general then please join us for

Stress Management Workshops

Wednesdays  700pm

At the March of Dimes

237 Camelot Street

Starting February 18th

The workshops are being offered free and everyone is welcome. Please contact Pierre D Beaupre at pdbeaupre@gmail.com or 807-251-5219 to register or for more information.

The Thunder Bay and District Injured Workers support group would like to thank Pierre for donating his time and extensive knowledge.  We would also like to thank the March of Dimes for once again providing us with space.