NEWS RELEASE: National Day of Mourning a Time to Remember and Fight for Safer Workplaces 

For Immediate Release:  

Thursday, April 24, 2025 

ST. JOHN’S, NL – The Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Labour (NLFL) and workers across the province will gather on April 28^th to mark the National Day of Mourning.  

“In 2024, according to WorkplaceNL statistics, 26 workers in this province died because of a workplace illness or injury. That’s 11 more than the previous year,” said NLFL President Jessica McCormick. “Behind these numbers are real people and the families, friends, and co-workers who are left to grieve their loss.”  
 
In the past five years alone,124 workers in this province have lost their lives due to their work.  

“Today—and every day—we reaffirm our commitment to fighting for strong, enforceable safety laws, healthy workplaces, and accountability for employers and governments—because even one workplace death is one too many,” said McCormick. “Everyone deserves to work safely and return home at the end of their shift. Governments must do more to make that a reality.” 

The NLFL continues our call for: 

• Employers to ensure safe workplaces; 

• Government to implement effective prevention strategies, strong laws, and to ensure those laws are enforced; 

• An increase the number of Occupational Health and Safety Investigators in the province; 

• Transparency in health and safety records. The health and safety records of NL employers are kept out of the public eye. Yet, Ontario’s “Safety Check”, for example, allows the public to check the safety records of businesses; 

• The enforcement of the Westray Act to hold employers criminally accountable in the death or serious injury of workers due to negligence; and 

• The establishment of an Occupational Health Clinic to help both employers and workers manage, prevent, and respond to occupational illnesses. 

Day of Mourning ceremonies will take place on Monday, April 28 in St. John’s, Grand Falls-Windsor, Corner Brook, and Labrador City. Full details of the events can be found at: https://nlfl.nf.ca/2025-day-of-mourning/  

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