Yukon Remembers Fallen Workers and Calls for Action on Invisible Injuries

On Monday, April 28, 2025, 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM everyone is invited to a National Day of Mourning Ceremony at the Yukon Workers Memorial in Shipyards Park, Whitehorse, Yukon or online at www.yukonfed.com/DOM.

This year, Canada’s unions are calling on decision-makers, support agencies and employers to take action against invisible workplace hazards and to support workers suffering from both visible and invisible work-related conditions.

Young workers, in particular, need to know that not all hazards are obvious. Workplace injuries and illnesses don’t always leave visible scars, but they can have lifelong impacts. We must ensure that all workers, especially those new to the workforce, are educated about these risks.  Every worker deserves to return home safely at the end of their shift. Keeping workers safe also means taking measures to prevent invisible illnesses and injuries, and safeguarding against unseen hazards.

In the Yukon, YEU and Local Y034 our Wildland firefighters, have been bringing attention to the invisible danger from exposure to wildfires.  Structural Firefighters have Presumptive Cancer Coverage in the Yukon — Wildland Firefighters Don’t. Yet British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia have Presumptive Cancer coverage for Wildland Firefighters.

“The wildfire environment contains Poly aromatic hydrocarbons, soot, Volatile organic compounds, small particulate matter, airborne heavy metals, diesel fumes, etc the list continues. These are all recognized carcinogens. The International Agency for Research on Cancer supports this. They consider Firefighting as a profession a carcinogen and do not draw a line between structural and wildland fire. “

Alex macphail, Wildland firefighter for over 10 years and President of Local Y034

Health and safety is about more than what we can see. Many workplace hazards and injuries are invisible, from exposure to harmful chemicals to the mental health toll of stressful or unsafe environments. This year, Canada’s unions are raising awareness of these unseen risks, advocating for education, enforcement, and preventive measures to protect workers from both visible and invisible dangers.

“It is important to acknowledge the impact that workplace injuries and fatalities have on families and communities. These events can cause deep and lasting pain, and we must work together to support those dealing with the loss of a worker and do better to prevent workplace related fatalities in the future.” 

Teresa Acheson, President Yukon Federation of Labour

Here in Yukon, the Workers Safety and Compensation Board have recorded 703 accepted claims, 377 lost-work time claims, and 2 confirmed worker fatality in 2024.  Additionally, it was after last year’s ceremony that WSCB also confirmed a worker fatality in 2023. 

“This is an important distinction for the public to remember.  These posted numbers only recognize what is reported and what is accepted by Compensation Boards as workplace injuries or fatalities,” says YFL President.  “The work of unions, federations of labour and Canadian Labour Congress show that there are others deeply affected by workplace injuries not reflected in their numbers, but still living with the impacts.”

As an example of workers lost ‘not in the numbers’, is Shaunna Mackenzie, a member of USW (United Steelworkers), mom of 2 children and grandmother, who was fired after Nineteen (19) years on the job with a clean record. The employer should have issued her a Performance Event (PE) where the employee would have had some retraining. Once completed they would have returned Shaunna to her full duties.

During the course of the grievance procedure and Mediation/Arbitration process, Shaunna was very stressed out about her job. She had contacted her union many times in frustration– wanting her job back. During the process of a written submission, Shaunna had a heart attack and passed away. USW states, “We are all positive that the stress that was endured due to her firing and had considerably attributed to her having the heart attack.”  

This year the Day of Mourning is also a federal election day.  We remind the public to Remember First. Honour Always.  Consider how your work is protected when you also go to the polls to vote.