Union members and allies mark Injured Workers’ Day in locations across Ontario
June 01 2024 - 12:55PM
The Ontario Federation of Labour (OFL) was pleased to support
several events across Ontario today, as injured workers and their
allies marked Injured Workers’ Day in the province.
“For decades, injured workers have been leading the fight for
justice for workers injured on the job,” said Laura Walton, OFL
President. “We echo their call for a comprehensive compensation
system that covers all workers and real income supports that lift
injured workers out of poverty.”
In Toronto, over 100 people joined a rally at Queen’s Park,
which included speeches by injured workers and supporters.
Earlier this week, Jamie West, ONDP MPP for Sudbury and Official
Opposition Critic for Labour, spoke about his injured workers’
bill, which passed second reading on Thursday.
“I’m advocating for June
1 to be officially proclaimed as Injured Workers Day in Ontario,”
said West. “Injured workers should never feel invisible, and this
day will ensure they are recognized by the government.”
Rallies also took place today in London and Windsor, while
injured workers in Thunder Bay marked the occasion on May 30. All
events were led by the Ontario Network of Injured Workers’ Groups
(ONIWG).
“As we gather to commemorate our 41st Injured Workers’ Day, we
have much to celebrate, including recently announced reviews that
should benefit injured migrant workers and the passage Thursday, on
second reading, of MPP West’s Injured Workers’ Day bill,” said
Willy Noiles, Acting ONIWG President. “We look forward to seeing
West’s long overdue legislation becoming law in time for June 1,
2025.”
At the end of April, the OFL launched its Injured Workers’ Bill
of Rights, an initiative to promote injured workers’ demands among
all workers in Ontario.
“While we fight to win the supports that injured workers
urgently need, we also fight to ensure the best health and safety
standards in all Ontario workplaces,” added Walton. “Prevention is
key to ensure no worker becomes injured or ill at work, and that
all workers make it home safe at the end of the day.”
The Ontario Federation of Labour represents 54 unions and one
million workers in Ontario. It is the largest provincial labour
federation in Canada. Visit OFL.ca and follow @OFLabour on
Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok.
For more information, please contact:
Jenny SellathuraiInterim Director of CommunicationsOntario
Federation of Labour
jsellathurai@ofl.ca | 416-894-3456