The ceremony will begin at 11 a.m. in the Edmonton room on the third floor of AUPE headquarters, 10451 170 St. in Edmonton, and will include a uniformed honour guard.
Media are invited to attend.
“In 2018, 162 Albertans were killed due to workplace injury or illness,” said James Hart, AUPE Vice-President and Chair of the union’s Occupational Health & Safety committee.
“On International Day of Mourning, we honour the memory of those who died or suffered injury or illness at work, and we offer our sincere condolences to all the families, friends, and colleagues of those affected by workplace tragedies.”
The Alberta Union of Provincial Employees played a key role in orchestrating the first International Day of Mourning, when, in 1995, AUPE’s first OHS representative, Dennis Malayko, attended meetings at the United Nations on behalf of the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions, where he was an integral part of shaping the day.
Hart said AUPE members are proud of this important work, but that many are now worried government rollbacks may threaten their health and safety at the workplace.
“During the provincial election, Jason Kenney’s UCP promised to reduce regulations on businesses by one third,” said Hart. “AUPE members and workers throughout Alberta are concerned that the protections which keep us safe at work will end up on the chopping block.
“On this Day of Mourning, we recommit ourselves to fighting for better, safer protections for ourselves and our fellow workers, because one person killed or injured on the job is one too many.”
AUPE is Alberta’s largest union, standing over 95,000 members strong. Its members are celebrating 100 years of solidarity in 2019.
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For more information:
Alexander Delorme, AUPE communications: 780-930-3333