WorkSafe B.C. has announced their financial turn around from a $500-million deficit to a $300 million dollar surplus and the local labour committee is calling the recent claims "outrageous" and "shameful."
"The surplus is coming off the backs of the workers," said Sandy Bauer of the Squamish and District Labour Committee. "It is outrageous that WorkSafe B.C. would publicly announce a surplus when fewer claims are being accepted and workers are receiving less and less compensation."
On Sunday (April 30) members of community gathered at the Worker's Memorial Monument in Squamish to recognize people who have lost their lives while working.
Paul Harrington officiated the ceremonies and called WorkSafe B.C.'s recent announcement disgraceful.
"I think it is a scandal when they come out an announce their savings as profits. I want to know what they are doing with that money if it is not being used to try and prevent further deaths. It is truly shameful what they are doing."
Bauer said the surplus has resulted in cutbacks in staff and safety monitoring.
"When there is not as much monitoring things can be missed," she said.
Last year 188 workers died in B.C. on the job, the highest level in 25 years and a 40 per cent increase in the previous year.
She and Harrington would like to see additional funds being allocated to increase work place safety inspections, with fines for employers who allow unsafe conditions.
"The priority should be to decrease deaths and injuries on the job, not creating surpluses," said Bauer.
Harrington said the Worker's Memorial Monument constructed in 2001 and located at Squamish Junction Park is an important reminder to the community about workplace deaths. He also said it provides local families with recognition of their losses.
"It was a civic team effort to build the monument and it meant a lot to families who had lost family members in the work place. It showed them that society was finally recognizing their losses."
Harrington would like to see the public continue to work towards safer employment environments.
"In the old days they used to take canaries down in the mines to show them when there was poisonous gas present. Nowadays we are the canaries. We have no warnings. We have to be diligent and refuse unsafe work."
Anyone who would like information or would like to inform the group of someone from Squamish who died at the workplace, not listed on the monument, can email the Squamish and District Labour Committee at [email protected].
