April 28, 2011 - No. 70
April 28 Day of Mourning for Workers
Killed or Injured on the Job
Governments Must Guarantee the Right to
Safe and Healthy Working Conditions
- Pierre Chénier -
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
April 28 Day of Mourning for Workers
Killed or Injured on the Job
• Governments Must Guarantee the Right to Safe
and Healthy Working Conditions -
Pierre Chénier
• Ontario Government Prepares to Step Up
Attacks on Injured Workers - Interview, Peter Page,
President, Ontario Network of
Injured Workers Groups
• Situation in Quebec's Construction Sector
- François Patry,
Director, Health and Safety Department, FTQ
Election 2011 -- Missing Voice of the Working Class
• All Out for May First on Parliament Hill!
Break New Ground to Defend Public Right and Set a New Direction for the
Economy!
• Workers' Issue Resounding Call to "Stop
Harper!" in Val d'Or
• MLPC Candidate in Laurentide-Labelle Calls
for Solutions to the Forestry Crisis that Favour the Workers and
Communities
April 28 Day of Mourning for Workers
Killed or Injured on the Job
Governments Must Guarantee the Right to
Safe and Healthy Working Conditions
- Pierre Chénier -
April 28, 2011 marks the 27th anniversary of the first
Day of Mourning for Workers Killed or Injured on the Job. Workers
around the world are once again organizing ceremonies, holding meetings
and observing moments of silence to mourn the dead and fight for the
living. At the heart of these actions is the
demand that governments uphold public right by guaranteeing the right
to
safe and healthy working conditions for all workers.
The International Labour Organization estimates that
every day 6,300 workers around the world die as a result of
occupational accidents or work-related diseases. This is more than 2.3
million deaths per year. Deaths and injuries take a particularly heavy
toll on workers in the countries of Asia, Africa,
Latin America and the Caribbean due to the super-exploitation of the
peoples of these
countries by the monopolies. In Canada, more than 1,000 workers die
each year from
workplace injuries and work-related diseases. This official figure is
well below the real numbers because governments and
their compensation boards refuse to recognize many work-related
diseases, especially those that stem from the use of toxic materials.
The actions that governments take to guarantee monopoly
right instead of public right is a major factor in creating an
atmosphere of chaos in the workplace with deadly consequences for
workers and their communities. For example, the federal and provincial
governments gave their blessing to Vale
Inco to run its operations during the recent strike with unskilled
personnel. It is only good fortune that no-one was injured or killed in
the explosions and other so-called accidents that have followed. Such
incidents are a sharp reminder to the workers and the whole community
of Sudbury of the extent to which they
are put at risk by Vale Inco and the governments in its service.
This criminal negligence of governments which refuse to do their duty
and uphold public right must be condemned.
The abdication of social responsibility by governments
for the health and well-being of workers also permits monopolies to
impose a climate of criminalization in the workplace. Workers are not
only blamed for being injured and killed on the job but are
criminalized when they report injuries and fight
for safe and healthy working conditions.
A most troublesome aspect
of
the refusal of the governments to uphold public right is their
protracted war against the injured workers who are demanding adequate
compensation as a matter of right. The governments of Ontario and
Quebec have ordered reviews of their compensation systems under
the hoax of dealing with "unfunded liabilities" and ensuring that
injured workers "contribute to society" instead of receiving "benefits
for life." Their stated aim is to reduce the amount and duration of
benefits injured workers receive. This is to divert more of the monies
intended for injured workers into the pockets
of the monopolies, which is both an unconscionable affront to the
dignity of the injured workers and a way to steal more of the social
wealth that workers produce.
On April 28 workers will once again issue the demand
that governments must take up their social responsibility and
uphold public right by guaranteeing safe and healthy working
conditions, not the
so-called monopoly right which comes at the expense of the workers'
lives and limbs.
Governments Must Guarantee the Right to
Safe and Healthy Working Conditions for All!
Workers' memorials in
Toronto, Subury and New Glasgow, Nova Scotia
Ontario Government Prepares to
Step Up Attacks on Injured Workers
- Interview, Peter Page, President,
Ontario Network of Injured Workers Groups (ONIWG) -
TML:
On the occasion of April 28, the Day of Mourning, we would like your
opinion on the funding review of the Workplace Safety and Insurance
Board (WSIB) that the Ontario government has established.
Peter Page: The Ontario government said
the review would not be used to attack the injured workers' benefits.
Then it turned around and only gave us a 0.5 per cent increase for 2011
when the cost of living has gone up about three per cent. This is a
reduction in real terms. They are reducing
our benefits in other nefarious ways as well. People on narcotics, on
heavily prescribed drugs, are being told that their prescription will
not be filled anymore. Or people are being told that their clothing
allowance is being cut. This is in addition to the process called
deeming which is already taking place, whereby injured workers can be
deemed to have a job at minimum wage even if they don't, and then have
their benefits cut accordingly.
The government says that it
wants to eliminate what it calls the unfunded liability of the
compensation system. It says that the system must be funded at a level
of 100 per cent. Currently the board has $13 billion in the bank. This
means that if the WSIB was to close its doors and pay off all of the
accrued benefits that injured workers would receive, they have 50
per cent of that in the bank. The WSIB benefits are paid by employers
through assessment rates. We say that, unless Ontario closes its doors,
you are always going to have a steady stream of income coming from
employers. It is not like a private
insurance system.
The chair of the review, Harry Arthurs, is going to
present his recommendations after the upcoming provincial election in
October. If the Conservatives are elected, they may simply say that the
Arthurs' report is a Liberal document, then scrap it or shelve it and
push for the privatization of the system
as is openly advocated in the U.S., especially in Wisconsin. If the
Liberals win and they don't like the recommendations -- for example if
Arthurs recommends full cost of living -- then they might say it is
impossible, the employers are going to scream, the unfunded liability
is going to get worse, etc. "Unfunded liability"
has always been used as a political football and injured workers are
always caught in the middle. At the end of the day, we are afraid that
it is going to be as in the past when governments invoked a crisis to
decrease injured workers' benefits. If history is a predictor of the
future, we think it is going to be used to
attack injured workers once the election is over.
We are also worried that Arthurs is looking at this
like some kind of collective bargaining, that we are to give up
something in order to get something. We say No! We gave up the right to
sue in exchange for fair compensation and it is up to the employers
through the WSIB to provide those benefits
to injured workers and not make us a burden on society.
TML: What is the stand of ONIWG in this
context?
PP: They are making up this crisis. If
they want to reduce the shortage of funds in the system they can, among
other things, eliminate the rebates that employers receive, which is
greater than the assessment rates amount they pay in. We do not agree
that the system has to be funded at 100
per cent the way they say. We are opposed to any plan to privatize the
system. As much as we do not like it the way it is, it is still better
than if it was in the hands of private insurance companies. We are
demanding full cost of living for injured workers, life-time pensions
for life-time disabilities, that all workers
in Ontario be covered and the elimination of deeming and the system of
rebates.
Situation in Quebec's Construction Sector
-
François Patry,
Director, Health and Safety Department, FTQ -
In Quebec, the main health and safety problem in
construction is that we have made no headway in building a culture of
prevention. The companies still impose the status quo. Thirty-two years
after the passage of the Occupational Health and Safety Act,
the articles
that require construction sites to have a joint health and
safety committee and a representative in prevention nominated by the
workers have not yet been promulgated. Articles 204-215 would implement
these two policies in a way suited to the
construction sector. Even though the Act prescribes that all priority
sectors must have a worker representative in prevention and a joint
health-safety committee and specifies construction as a priority
sector,
it still does not apply to our sector. This in spite of the fact that
25 per cent of the work fatalities in Quebec each
year happen in construction although we constitute only 5 per cent of
the workforce. The highest number of work injuries is also in this
sector.
These regulations are critical for us to build a
culture of
prevention in construction, otherwise it remains a culture of hiding
things: "An inspector is coming! Quick hide this!" The scope of health
and safety within this culture is to demand things like safety fences
instead of making health and safety part of
the project plan. There is no space to analyze the work processes, the
causes of the injuries, the equipment etc. Providing construction
workers with safety equipment is not prevention. Giving the workers
safety equipment does not eliminate the hazard.
Health and safety considerations must start at the
planning stage of the project. It is fine to say that workers have to
be tied off when they work but tied off to what? To what will the life
lines be connected? Too often, the workers are just tied to anything
that happens to be there.
Another major problem is how big corporations are more
and more screening workers under a pretense of health and safety
and even prevention. Rio Tinto, for example, forces all workers on its
construction sites to pass health tests and have x-rays. They call this
prevention. It has established
a number of jobs as "critical" ones for which workers have to pass
tests. The doctor decides whether the worker is suited to the work or
not. This is phoney prevention. It attacks the worker rather than
dealing with the hazard. And the information the doctors gather, which
is supposed to be confidential, ends up on the
company's desk. Employers can then say to a worker, "We know that in
the past you have had back problems..."
The Iron Ore Company of Canada, at its operations on
the North Shore, now forces all workers on their construction sites to
pass drug tests. After working for these construction companies for
years, these workers still have to pass the tests or they can't work on
these sites. I am not talking about an individual worker who is acting
as if he is
under the influence of drugs. These are generalized tests, mandatory
for all workers or they will be barred from the sites. I have been in
prevention for over 25 years and I personally read all the reports on
construction site fatalities and I have yet to read one that puts the
blame on
a worker's personal health issue for their demise.
This kind of intervention is spreading and we are
preparing to fight it. We are working with other construction unions to
build common resistance to this kind of intrusion and selection being
done by the large corporations in the name of health and safety and
prevention.
Election 2011 -- Missing Voice of the
Working Class
All Out for May First on Parliament Hill!
Break New Ground to Defend Public Right and
Set a New Direction for the Economy!
In three days, workers and their allies will gather in a
historic Rally and March on Parliament Hill. Steelworkers will be
joined by active workers
and retirees from many other sectors of the economy from across Canada,
as well as youth and students and other collectives, to voice their
concern about the nation-wrecking of governments
that serves monopoly right, not public right. Everyone is called on to
participate so as to put forward the demands of workers in all sectors
of the economy to defend the rights of all.
There is no more appropriate day than May First,
International Workers' Day which this year falls on the eve of the
federal election, for
workers to make their voice heard and call on whatever party or parties
form the next government to change the direction of the economy and
uphold
public right, not the so-called rights of the monopolies
to do as they please and wreck the economy, our communities and the
country.
In Hamilton, active and retired steelworkers of Local
1005 have been opposing the monopoly "right" of
U.S. Steel to impose its phoney lockout since November of last year. To
add insult to injury, U.S. Steel has been removing the coke required
for
production at Hamilton Works. How can any Canadian government worthy of
the name stand idly by
while a U.S. monopoly continues to have its way in callous disregard
for the rights of Canadian workers and the very existence of Canada's
steel
industry? This is just one example of the nation-wrecking taking place
in all sectors that has to
be stopped.
In the midst of an election campaign where workers and
the vast majority of electors do not have a say in decision-making, and
are treated as mere voting cattle, it is crucial that we take to
Parliament Hill our demands in defence of our rights and against the
theft of resources, the privatization of public services,
closures of factories, layoffs, etc., and show our resolve to set a new
direction for the economy.
Join the steelworkers on Parliament Hill on May First to
demand an economy that serves the people, public good and the general
interests of society.
Concessions Are Not
Solutions!
Manufacturing Yes! Nation-Wrecking No!
Uphold Public Right, Not Monopoly Right!
Get
on the Buses for May 1st!
For
information contact visit the USW
Local 1005 website: www.uswa1005.ca
or
call
905-547-1417
or
e-mail
info@uswa1005.ca
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Workers' Issue Resounding Call to
"Stop Harper!" in Val d'Or
On April 19, the workers in the
Abitibi-Témiscamingue region of Quebec organized to let Harper
know what they think of his government when he paid a visit to
Val-d'Or, Quebec. About 150 workers demonstrated near the
hotel where Harper was the guest speaker at an election rally for the
Conservative
candidate in the riding of Abitibi-Baie-James-Nunavuk-Eeyou.
During the 2008 election, the workers of Abitibi-Témiscamingue
also took a stand against the nation-wrecking Harper regime when they
blocked the highway and prevented Harper's entourage from moving for
several hours.
Val d'Or is one of the main towns in
Abitibi-Temiscamingue, a region in northwestern Quebec whose economy is
based primarily on forestry and mining. The region has been
severely affected by the forestry crisis and the refusal of governments
to take up their responsibility to defend the
livelihood of the workers and the well-being of their communities.
Although forestry workers and communities have experienced many plant
closures and massive job losses in the last 5-6 years, they have never
stopped the fight to defend the livelihood of all and build an industry
that allows the communities to flourish.
Their efforts have been met by the Harper government's infamous refusal
to assist the forestry workers, even at the peak of the
economic crisis, claiming that to sustain the falling income of the
workers would be a waste to the economy. With shameless self-delusion
he now dares to go to the region and ask
for its support in the election.
In his attempt to gain more seats in Quebec to
form a majority government, Harper is courting the regions with his
vulgar propaganda that if the people elect Conservative MPs, the
regions will join the table of the "decision-makers." To this, the
workers have replied: "Better to stand in the
opposition than sit on your ass for the regions!"; "No way we are
giving you a majority! You want a majority to silence us!"; "In power
in the region, but excluded from the Constitution?"; "No Omerta [Mafia
code of silence] for
Quebec and Canada!" and "No Reform Party for Abitibi!"
The workers, who
were mostly from the forestry
sector, demonstrated for three hours, highlighting the forestry crisis
and the Harper government's refusal to take up its responsibilities.
They pointed out that at the height of the forestry crisis, Harper
dedicated a meagre $178 million to the sector, all of which went to the
companies with nothing for the workers. The
workers also demanded a change in the bankruptcy protection laws to put
an end to the theft of retirees' pensions.
The demonstrators' slogans and signs denounced other
aspects of the Harper government's anti-social offensive as well: "No
to Your Billions for Armaments!"; "You Invest in Jails Not in
Prevention!" and "Conservatives Mean Humiliation for the Unemployed!"
The workers prepared statements to present to the
media, summarizing their views of the Harper government. However,
police forces were everywhere, creating a militarized atmosphere around
Harper.
Carl Proulx, a national representative of CEP for the
region, told TML: "Policemen outnumbered the demonstrators.
The Sureté du Quebec were there and so were the RCMP and the
anti-riot squad. There were so many police that it was impossible to
even get close to Harper, who was rushed
into the hotel through one of the back doors. The rally lasted two
hours and then Harper rushed out and immediately left for Rimouski. The
journalists did not even bother to come to talk to us. They passed
right by us without even stopping. Maybe they were told not to speak to
us. We negotiated with the police
to have access to the press. We did not want to kidnap the prime
minister; we wanted to be listened to and have our opinions published
in the newspapers. If Harper does not agree with us, he can answer us!
If he does not have bad conscience, what is wrong with answering?"
Workers are proud of their action, despite the boycott
by the monopoly media, as it showed their opposition to the
warmongering, anti-social and anti-people Harper government
and their resolve to Stop Harper!
MLPC Candidate in Laurentide-Labelle Calls for
Solutions to the Forestry Crisis that Favour the Workers and Communities
Mikaël St-Louis is the
Marxist-Leninist Party of Canada candidate in Laurentide-Labelle. A
24-year-old student of history and politics at the University of Quebec
in Outaouais, he has lived in Notre-Dame-Du-Laus since childhood and
serves his community as a volunteer fireman. He is also active
in the Quebec student movement in the struggle in defence of
the right to education and against the anti-social
offensive in Quebec. He is participating in the election as a candidate
for the MLPC to ensure that the problems facing the region are put on
the agenda. Mikaël writes:
"With the upcoming May 2 federal election, the usual
avalanche of preoccupations of the parties of the rich and the
monopolies in different sectors of the economy has been unleashed
against the workers and the people. The agenda of the working class,
the youth and the people in general is once again marginalized
and categorized as just another 'lobby' by the monopoly media. The
problems the workers face are allegedly turned into solutions in the
so-called
programs of the parties of the rich, which are wooing the ruling
circles for their support.
"The forest industry, for example, is a major concern
for the workers in the Laurentide-Labelle riding. However, despite the
crisis that has dragged on for more than five years, no serious
discussion has been held on this question during the electoral
campaign, let alone any talk about solutions. The parties of the
rich are busy wallowing in the political and constitutional crisis that
predominates the Canadian institutions. We have to remember that, since
the beginning of the crisis in the forest industry, the Harper
government of Canada and the Quebec Charest government have supported
the forest monopolies in their destruction
and plunder that has deprived tens of thousands of workers and their
communities of their means of subsistence. No political party offers
any solution other than financing the forest monopolies, the very ones
responsible for the crisis. In other words 'everything for the forest
monopolies, nothing for the workers and
their communities'!
"The parties of the rich and
their economists talk about the forest industry as something belonging
to the past and with no future. That is how the representatives of the
monopolies speak after having wreaked havoc on the economy. However,
the forest industry is a key sector of the economy, particularly in
relation
to housing construction and furniture manufacture. How can we explain
the logic whereby people across the country are demanding housing while
the economists and the monopolies claim that a lack of demand for wood
is forcing the closure of factories and sawmills? If taken away
from the monopolies in the
service of the American empire, the forest industry could meet the
needs of the working class and people for housing and furniture, as
well as the demand for a guaranteed means of subsistence for the
forestry workers and their communities.
"While the monopolies are
bogged down in their crises,
the Harper government does nothing but launch programs to support these
monopolies. For the workers, this amounts to paying their own
executioner. In other words, everything is done to hide the fact that
the forest monopolies like AbitibiBowater are
a solution from the past for the current problems in the industry and
throughout the economy. Perpetuating the regime of the monopolies
equals perpetuating the ongoing crisis and maintaining the sword of
Damocles hanging permanently over the working class and people. The
solutions of the monopolies and their
parties have had their day! Discussion must begin everywhere during
these elections on building the Workers' Opposition in order to advance
the workers' solutions to all the problems that society is facing."
Website: www.cpcml.ca
Email: editor@cpcml.ca
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