Sudbury marks 41st Workers’ Memorial Day

On Friday in Sudbury, a ceremony was held to mark the 41st anniversary of Workers’ Memorial Day at Unifor Local 598.

The day recognizes the men who were killed at 10:12 a.m. on June 20, 1984, after a seismic event caused a collapse in what was formerly called the Falconbridge Mine.

Three workers were killed instantly and one was missing. Rescue teams worked frantically to locate the fourth person, who succumbed to his injuries after a second event caused further delays.

“It is very important for the local and for the members (and) for the people that were there when a lot of their brothers or sisters were injured or killed on the job,” said Brian McDonald, recording secretary for the pensioners association at Unifor Local 598.

“I knew quite a few of them over the years. And … it’s always close to the heart. It’s very, very, very emotional for me.”

NDP Nickel Belt MPP and NDP health critic France Gelinas was working at the hospital when the accident occurred.

Many other sectors need change

Gelinas said while there have been many improvements in health and safety since then, more needs to be done.

“We have done a lot in Sudbury to push health and safety forward, mainly in mining and a bit in forestry,” she said.

“But there are many other sectors where people work, where health and safety are not a priority. But those workers do get hurt, those workers do get injured and some of them even die.”

Gelinas said transportation is an area where too many serious accidents are occurring.

“If you look at the number of new drivers that are involved in accidents -- I would say it’s not an accident,” she said.

“It’s because the health and safety standards that the government should be putting in place are not in place, are lacking. Some of them have even been taken away. And you see there, you see the consequences of that with multiple accidents on all of the roads in the north, not only in the winter but in the summer.”

Sudbury Mayor Paul Lefebvre said the day is one of remembrance, while also pushing for change.

“As a community, we are a leader in health and safety, because unfortunately, the people that we have lost, we learn with every experience,” Lefebvre said.

“Certainly, we’ve got to strive to get better, be better together. And that’s why we’re here today.”

The ceremony was marked by a bagpipe procession, speeches and the laying of flowers at the cenotaph.

Related:

Memorial day in Sudbury honours workers who were killed on the job

Sombre ceremony marks 40th Workers’ Memorial Day in Sudbury