Wednesday marks the National Day of Mourning for workers who have been killed, injured, or gotten sick on the job. SGEU says, each year, about 1,000 Canadian workers die because of an injury or an exposure that happens at work.

The union says, this year, the Day of Mourning has the added significance of highlighting the human costs of COVID-19.

Across Saskatchewan, nearly 500 people have died from the virus, many of whom were exposed at work. As of April 26th, two-thirds of the current COVID-19 outbreaks in the province are classified as workplace outbreaks – and most of the remainder are in locations like schools and correctional centres, where workers are also at risk.

The union says the COVID-19 pandemic has laid bare the fact that so many workers are unacceptably vulnerable – with few protections, low wages, and no paid sick leave to help them weather the storm of a worldwide crisis like this.

SGEU says Canada’s unions are calling on all governments to immediately introduce or expand paid sick leave, to ensure workers aren’t required to put themselves and others at risk by going to work sick. The union is also lobbying for priority vaccine access for essential frontline workers, fighting for better PPE, advocating for members to work from home, and calling on the government to improve labour legislation and working conditions province-wide.