CANADIAN LABOUR

DYING FOR WORK:

April 28, Workers' Memorial Day, is fast approaching, and like in years past Molly will be blogging extensively on this subject. Workplace related deaths are actually a far more common cause of mortality than any wars. In any given year 2 million people die worldwide of workplace accidents or occupational illnesses. I guess there are wars and then there are wars, and the war of the bosses against their workers is much more deadly than any other. Here's a potpourri of recent workers deaths in Canada. To say the least this is a mere snapshot. First from CTV Toronto a call from the Ontario Federation of Labour for a police probe into a construction accident in Toronto earlier this month.

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Union demands police probe into worker's death
The Canadian Press
TORONTO — The Ontario Federation of Labour is calling for a criminal probe into the death of a construction worker in east-end Toronto last week.

The man was building concrete forms when he fell through a hole on the second floor, plummeting about 10 metres to the basement.

The victim, known to co-workers as Ali, died in hospital later that day.

Friday's accident occurred at the University of Toronto's new $70 million Instructional Centre.

OFL president Sid Ryan is calling on police to investigate the accident to determine if criminal charges should be laid against the employer.

He says the law allows for the prosecutions of company officials if they fail to keep workplaces healthy and safe.

Ryan says the March 12th death was the seventh fall-related fatality in as many weeks ( NB - Molly ) and "another preventable death."

"The carnage in our workplaces has to stop." he said.

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Here's an item from the University of Toronto newspaper The Varsity that clarifies and expands on the incident mentioned above.

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Site worker dies on Scarborough campus
Labour union seeks criminal investigation

Samya Kullab
A construction worker named Hilit Mutlu died last week when he fell through a hole on the second floor of U of T Scarborough’s new $70 million Instructional Centre, plummeting 10 metres to the basement. The accident occurred on Friday, March 12.

Mutlu, a recent immigrant from Turkey, died later that day when he was rushed to Sunnybrook.

“This is actually the second fatality with this group of companies and the second fatality as a result of a fall,” said a spokesperson for the Ontario Federation of Labour.

In June 2008, Petro, a co-worker of Ali, fell three metres from a cantilevered portion of a support beam at a condo site.

OFL president Sid Ryan called for a police investigation of the accident to see if criminal charges should be laid against Ali’s employer, Red 2000 Structures Inc., for failing to keep the workplace safe..

Ryan described the incident as “another preventable death.”

“All we’re saying is that we want a criminal investigation and only if evidence warrants should there be charges. What we’re looking specifically is for an investigation through the Bill C-35 amendment, which places a legal obligation under the criminal code around employer negligence,” said the OFL spokesperson.

Last December 24, another four Toronto construction workers fell to their deaths when scaffolding collapsed. The OFL called for a criminal investigation under Bill C-45.

The Bill amended the Criminal Code of Canada to allow for the prosecution of corporate executives, directors, and managers who neglect to uphold their responsibilities to make and keep workplaces healthy and safe.

The death of Ali coincided with the 50th anniversary of the Hogg’s Hollow disaster, commemorating the death of five Italian immigrant workers who died while constructing a tunnel in 1960. The death caused public outrage and mobilized the Italian community to change health and safety laws.

Ontario tallied 10 fall-related construction worker deaths in 2009, according to the Labour Ministry.

Tim Legault contributed reporting for this article.

A previous version of this article incorrectly reported the name of the worker who died as Ali. In fact, his name is Hilit Mutlu. The Varsity regrets the error.

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Here's another item from radio station VOCM out in Newfoundland about yet another incident.

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Man Dies in IOC Industrial Accident; Union Questions Air Ambulance Delay
The Iron Ore Company of Canada says 56-year-old Eldon Perry is the victim of an industrial accident at their operation in Labrador City. IOC says 33-year-old Joshua Hayse also involved in the incident remains in hospital in serious condition. The RNC say the two men, both from Lab City, were working at the site when they fell off a piece of lift equipment Thursday afternoon around 2 p.m. They were brought to Captain William Jackman Memorial Hospital. The Constabulary and Occupational Health and Safety are investigating, and operations at the mine have been temporarily suspended.

Steelworkers' Union President George Kean says they are mourning the loss of their member, and hope Hayse will have a full recovery. He says Perry was a kind co-worker, dedicated family man and well known in the community.

Kean says there are concerns about the unavailability of an air ambulance yesterday. He says it finally arrived around 1 a.m. Friday morning. Kean says it's a two-hour flight from St. Anthony, so he is wondering where the air ambulance was Thursday. He says the individual could have been at the Health Sciences Centre last night with the proper care available. Kean wants something done about the issue, and he wants to see health care improved in Labrador West.

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Here's a little reminder from the Ontario Federation of Labour (OFL) about what the situation used to be and what we have yet to achieve. The anniversary was mentioned above. Molly would add the warning about what could happen once more if the employers "win the war".
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Labour movement commemorates 50th anniversary of Hogg’s Hollow disaster
(TORONTO) -- In 1960, the horrific deaths of five Italian immigrant workers who died while constructing a tunnel produced such public outrage, mobilizations in the Italian community, and massive union organizing that health and safety laws were forever changed.

Unaware of their rights and desperate for paid employment, the workers became victims of an employer who continuously violated almost every safety regulation governing the Toronto tunnel project.

“Today we honour the victims of the 1960 disaster and note that they have become a potent symbol of the importance of rigorously enforced health and safety laws,” says OFL President Sid Ryan.

“But while vitally important progress has been made, workplace dangers continue to exist for too many of Ontario’s more than seven million workers.”

Last December 24th, four workers fell to their deaths when their scaffolding collapsed. A fifth worker barely survived. The OFL called for an immediate criminal investigation utilizing “Westray” Bill C-45.

The Bill amended the Criminal Code of Canada to allow for criminal prosecutions of corporate executives, directors and managers who act wrongfully or neglect to uphold their responsibilities to make and keep workplaces healthy and safe. In the six years since it was passed more than 400 Ontario workers have been killed on the job and nearly two million injured, yet not one employer in Ontario has been prosecuted. ( NB - Molly )

“We are at another turning point in health and safety protection. C-45 must become routinely integrated into provincial responses to death and injury. Too many irresponsible employers and managers will only get the message when they too have their futures at stake,” said Ryan.
Contact:

Sid Ryan

President, Ontario Federation of Labour

p: 416-209-0066 (mobile)

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Finally, to give a little local reference to this topic here is a story originally from the Winnipeg Free Press about local NDP MP Pat Martin's long standing campaign to end the asbestos industry in Canada. This latest is simply about ending government subsidies to this killer industry. Martin is one of the few members of parliament who has actually ever worked for a living.

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Feds should cut asbestos advocacy funding: NDP MP
Mia Rabson, Winnipeg Free Press: Thursday, March 18, 2010

OTTAWA — A New Democrat MP has challenged the federal government to cut its budget funding for the Chrysotile Institute, a Quebec-based advocacy group for the asbestos industry.

In the budget, the government affirmed its annual $250,000 in direct support for the institute, but Winnipeg MP Pat Martin said Thursday that asbestos is an unsafe product that the government should not be paying to promote.

"It's corporate welfare for corporate serial killers," said Martin.

At a Natural Resources Committee meeting he proposed a motion to cut the funding from the budget estimates. He has the backing of the Canadian Cancer Society, which wrote the committee this week asking for the institute's funds to be redirected to a strategy to phase out the use and exports of asbestos.

Canada is one of the last producers and the second largest exporter of asbestos in the world. About 200,000 tonnes of the fibre is still mined in Quebec and exported each year, mainly to developing countries such as India and Indonesia. It is used mostly to reinforce construction materials.

But the World Health Organization says all forms of asbestos, including chrysotile, causes cancer, and it has been banned by the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand and all countries in the European Union.

It is associated with a number of fatal lung diseases and is responsible for more than 60 per cent of the industrial-related deaths in the country each year.

Clement Godbout is a registered lobbyist who heads up the Chrysotile Institute, a non-profit organization set up in 1984 by the Quebec and federal governments to promote the safe use of Chrysotile asbestos around the world.

The institute has done a great job of protecting Canadian workers from the health hazards of asbestos, he said, and now the institute uses that expertise to educate developing countries on safe use of the product.

"Canada is a resource-rich country and we export all kinds of chemicals and natural products that are cancer-causing if used improperly, some more than chrysotile," he said, giving such examples as lead and uranium.

There is only one remaining asbestos mine in Canada. It is in the riding of Natural Resources Minister Christian Paradis.

At the committee Thursday, Paradis said he has long been aware of Martin's criticism of the asbestos industry but said Martin cherry-picks facts from studies and ignore others.

"These studies show chrysotile asbestos is safe," said Paradis. ( "safer than" is not "safe" - Molly )

He said the position of the government to continue funding the institute is based on science and that it is safe as long as its risk is properly managed.

Paradis said that is the whole purpose of the Chrysotile Institute. ( I suppose that defending a profitable industry has nothing whatsoever to do with it - Molly )

"It is not an institute of lobbying," said Paradis. "It is there to promote the safe use of asbestos." ( cough, cough, cough - Molly )

Last year, Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff came out in favour of banning asbestos exports after changing his position a few times. But the Liberal natural resources critic Geoff Regan said Martin's appearance at the committee was nothing more than a political stunt that took away from other important work the committee should have attended to. Martin is not a normal member of the committee but appeared Thursday solely to introduce his motion regarding asbestos. ( Martin actually once worked in an asbestos mine, unlike the other members whose "work experience" is probably entirely in legal finagling. I can imagine that he has a personal interest that goes beyond the protection of business clients- Molly )

"He was just using the committee as his soap box," said Regan. "I have no great affection for the Chrysotile Institute. Our leader has been very clear we believe chrysotile asbestos poses significant health risks."

But Regan said the response is to address regional economic diversification.

Regan said the NDP knows amending the estimates is a confidence matter that leads to election talk and that's not appropriate.

"I don't want any part of these NDP electioneering games," he said.

Martin called the response "spineless." ( I'd have different insult terms for it- Molly )

LOCAL NEWS-WINNIPEG:
"MILLIONS" FOR CHRIST:

Ah Winnipeg. As the dreary grey winter drags on and on our beloved city administration does its level best to keep the temperature of the citizens up with one zany proposal after another. First it was the little police helicopter that could. Or maybe it couldn't because the Province seemed to duck out of the deal when this latest of glad-hand-Sam's dreams was reported to be likely to cost a bit more than was originally projected. But then it seemed to be on again as the Province said it would indeed cover the extra cost. The future will tell as, like all government schemes, the final cost will be more than a little more than originally estimated. I suppose that such a "dream machine" whereby Winnipeg tries once again to imitate a real city might be of some use in chasing down car thieves. The trouble is that, in the end you have to have real police cars with real police in them to actually arrest the thieves. You can't take the bastards out with Hellfire Missiles whatever the fantasies associated with the chopper. Some might say that this would be a good idea, but it's a no-go. MPI would have a fit.





Then there's the great rolling garbage bin debate. Winnipeg's northwest corner has been supplied with giant "rolling garbage bins". The homeowner is supposed to load their garbage into it for several days on their own property and then roll it out only on the evening before garbage day. These bins are a smaller version of the much bigger, and non-rolling, bins that have been placed in much of Winnipeg's North End. Which is whole different subject. The larger bins require the ability to give the old heave-ho to send your garbage high enough to clear the top. That's fine. More than a few people respond by just leaving the damn garbage on the ground anyways for the stray dogs to deal with.





The push-it-yourself bins require the physical stamina to push said bin out into the alley. Very good...unless it's the middle of winter and you have to push the bin through a blanket of snow and try to find a place to park it that doesn't obstruct the alleyway. Not everyone has a backyard driveway. The city also provides the extra "help" of sending the plows down the alleys and pushing the snow to the side, gradually making the roadway narrower and narrower and narrower as the winter drags on. In my own alley the city-made drifts take off three feet on my side and two feet on the other side. I guess it'll be great exercise for some people, assuming such a thing can be done at all. Not so great, however, if you're in your 70s, with bad arthritis and a heart condition. Really "great" ie impossible if you walk with a cane or walker. the intent is obvious...to fire as many garbagemen as possible and spend the money (an unknown amount, maybe less, maybe the same or maybe more) paying for high tech garbage trucks. With the added bonus of being able to add a tidy profit to this cost if the work is contracted out. All very good for contractors who have political friends but not very good for old folks.





These two items, however, weren't enough amusement for one winter season. Behind closed doors the City of Winnipeg Entertainment and Corporate Giveaway Committee (also known as the Mayor's Executive Policy Committee) plotted to give away $3.4 million dollars to the evangelical group 'Youth For Christ' (YFC) for them to build a "youth centre" at the northwest corner of Higgins and Main. The basic story, from the CBC, can be read here. Winnipeg MP Pat Martin soon raised objections to the idea of public money being used to fund a youth centre run by proselytizing evangelicals. Apparently, there had been some longer term plotting behind the move. The project was originally floated as a collaboration between YFC and the University of Winnipeg (U of W), but the U. of W. wanted the centre built on their campus. This, of course, would have meant at least joint control over the centre and possibly even ultimate U of W control. to say nothing of real estate equity.





The back rooms got smokier, and the federal government became involved, anteing up $3.2 million to the project given City of Winnipeg agreement to co-finance. this sort of thing is right up their alley, shucking off social services to evangelical groups. Not to be outdone in the secrecy department the Mayor began his own canvassing, lining up Centre Venture a quango which it intended to promote downtown development ie give away money to the usual suspects as the "front group" for the "loan" that is a gift to YFC. The scheme is for Centre Venture to give an upfront loan to YFC of $2.6 million which the City will pay back over 15 years (at $225,000/year) equalling a final cost of $3.4 million. Nice "loan" if you have friends in high places. The provincial government has written a "letter of support" for the project but has declined to offer any funding.





If you look at the website of the Winnipeg branch of YFC you will find it has quite the corporate support on its board of directors. That may be neither here nor there, but it is interesting. It might also be interesting to note that the original location at the U of W was actually in an area where people really do live. The new proposed location is perhaps within walking distance of Point Douglas and a very small part of the North End, but it's not an easy distance even from them. YFC itself has been somewhat "no comment" on Martin's complaint, but the Mayor and federal public safety minister Vic Toews (one of whose campaign donors was- you guessed it-Youth For Christ) shot back denying that the proposed centre would be "evangelical" because not only Christians would be allowed to participate in its programs. Toews, in particular, stooped to the lowest form of political smear so typical of Conservative politicians by saying that "Pat Martin doesn't have a problem with allowing gangs to recruit in his riding".





The Mayor's tone was a bit more elevated, but he also echoed the "not only Christians will be allowed in the door" refrain. The way in which the City's involvement, however, came about seems to say that our Mayor could give the federal Conservatives lessons in government secrecy. No mean feat indeed ! After the behind closed doors meeting of the EPC where the give away was decided on (with no input from the City bureaucrats who usually vet numerous far smaller community projects) a one page notice was presented to City Council. The vote was scheduled for one week later, on February 24. Not much time for debate for a matter that will divert a huge amount of money away from present smaller neighbourhood projects into a controversial megaproject of dubious value. I can only hope that Council Chambers will be packed on the 24th.





What I find most notable about the attacks that have been levelled against Martin is the masterful way that his critics manage to divert the whole issue by confusing "evangelical" with its precise opposite ie a group that only wants to associate with its own kind rather than to convert "the other". The other actually has to be present before you can work on converting him, and, of course, groups like YFC want to have the "non-churchy" present so that they can work on them. It only stands to reason, and I'm sure that both the Mayor and Toews know exactly what they are doing and how they are lying by misdirection when they misrepresent what proselytizing actually is. For those who are interested here is the Mission Statement of Youth For Christ from their national website.

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Our Mission
Youth for Christ, Canada exists to impact every young person in Canada with the person, work and teachings of Jesus Christ and discipling them into the Church.






Our ministry is involved in responsible, effective and culturally sensitive evangelism of youth, communicating and caring in ways that are relevant to this generation.






The ministry in Canada is committed to acting as a resource in the helping to further the worldwide vision and mission of YFC International.






We are committed to a journey of faith fully trusting our Lord to supply the resources and strategies to impact the youth of Canada.

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This says pretty plainly that they intend to do exactly what Pat Martin says they want to do. They also happen to be damn proud of it, and they'd never deny it. That they leave to their political friends.

MORE MATTERS BLOGISH:

Molly forgot a few things in her last post (too much catnip on a Saturday night). One that should be added to the 'Best of the Blogs' section is a repost on Pierre Ducasse's blog Ecodema titled 'Workplace Representation for All is a Human Right'. this is a reprint from a previous article by Roy J. Adams. Molly's flirtation with social democracy is over 30 years in the past when she was perhaps the most consistent writer for The Commonwealth, the Saskatchewan NDP paper. Her present anarchism is little different from what she believed then EXCEPT that she believes that the state cannot create the conditions for democracy, freedom, equality, etc.. What she presently believes is that the role of the state is to "stand aside" and create the "playing field" for truly popular initiatives. Molly sees the need for a "flanking action" within the parliamentary system, but she knows that this action is not anything related to the creation of real socialism. It can merely "clear the field". This is where Molly disagrees with her comrade, Larry Gambone, about events in Venezuela. The creation of real "peoples' power" in that location essentially depends upon either the stupidity or the inefficiency of the new managerial ruling class represented by Chavez vis-a-vis intelligence and efficiency on the part of the popular movements. Also even more importantly proper scepticism as to the new rulers. I simply don't see any of that there in any great manifestation. It will be there in 10 or 20 years but not now.

But back to Canada in 2007. One of our local MPs, Pat Martin, has expressed the opinion that the NDP is in some sort of "crisis" (I don't know if I agree with him because Green Party "votes" in opinion polls are very much of a "blip"), and that it should respond with "imaginative policy" (here I do agree with him, and I can think of no better source than the section of the party represented by Pierre Ducasse.). Howzabout the word "socialism" actually comes to mean something once more rather than a "fuzzword" for conservative commentators ?

Oh yes, one more thing "blogish" (not exactly but I want to be brief), I'd like to draw people's attention to a recent article on the Anarckismo site. It's titled "Fundamentalism, Nationalism and Militarism in Turkey". It's produced by some of our Turkish anarchist comrades, and it gives a corrective viewpoint to the tendency of too many anarchists to equate Third World nationalism with anything libertarian. Have a look.

Molly