ADVISORY: OFL Officers to join Day of Mourning Services in Toronto, North York & Brampton

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - April 27, 2016) - Thursday, April 28 is the labour movement's most solemn day. Thousands of workers, friends and families of fallen workers will gather at ceremonies across Ontario to recognize the National Day of Mourning for Workers Killed or Injured on the Job. Officers of the Ontario Federation of Labour (OFL) will be joining remembrance ceremonies in Toronto, North York and Brampton to demand action - from our courts and from our governments - to ensure that every employee who heads off to work will return home safely to their family at the end of a workday.

According to the latest statistics from Ontario's Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB), 226 workers reportedly lost their lives in 2015 due to workplace tragedies or occupational disease. Roughly 230,000 Ontario workers are injured or made sick at work every year, thousands of others pass away years later due to resulting health complications, and still other cases, undoubtedly, go unreported or unacknowledged.

TORONTO - NOON: OFL President Chris Buckley will join the Toronto & York Region Labour Council for a ceremony at Larry Sefton Park, 500 Bay Street (behind City Hall).

NORTH YORK - 3:00 p.m.: OFL President Chris Buckley will join the Toronto & York Region Labour Council for an Italian Fallen Workers Memorial Ceremony at the Columbus Centre, 901 Lawrence Ave. West.

BRAMPTON - 10:00 a.m.: OFL Executive Vice-President Ahmad Gaied will join the Peel Regional Labour Council for a ceremony at the Milestones of Labour Monument, Brampton, Flower City, 8870 McLaughlin Road.

"Canada has the opportunity to show the world we care about stopping the tragedy of asbestos and protecting the lives of every worker. We believe the National Day of Mourning on April 28 offers a tremendous opportunity for meaningful action to make workplace health and safety the bottom line for every employer," said OFL President Chris Buckley.

Read the OFL Statement on the Day of Mourning at: http://ofl.ca/index.php/ofl-statement-national-day-mourning-workers-killed-injured-job-april-28-2016/

The OFL represents 54 unions and one million workers in Ontario. For information, visit www.OFL.ca and follow @OFLabour on Facebook and Twitter.