Day of Mourning

April 24, 2007

Brothers and Sisters,

Especially in light of the April 23rd tragedy near Trail on CPRail which claimed the life of Engineer and Teamster Lonnie Plasko, I would like to take this opportunity to remind everyone that Saturday April 28th, 2007 is the International Day of Mourning for workers killed or injured on the job.

As Maintenance of Way workers, we know first hand the devastation that workplace deaths and injuries cause. At CPR, we remember our friends and members with memorials by the track where they gave their lives. We remember their deaths but more importantly, we remember their lives... and how they enriched ours.

At Gary Kinakin's memorial, Bryan Wilson gave an analogy which has stuck with me these last few years. Bryan talked about the way geese fly in a "V" formation and how this allows for them to travel great distance with less effort, aerodynamically, as all wings beating move the whole "V". And when one bird drops off, or out of formation, the rest feel the drag and it takes more work to keep going. When one is gone, it greatly affects the group.

Bryan compared Gary's passing to this and spoke of how much more effort it would take for the rest of us to go on, but that we had to and that we would. And we have.

But we also remember Gary.... and Bob.... and Shawn....and Gilles....and Leo....and Dave....and Wayne and so many others who went before us. We remember them often.

None of us come to work with the intention of getting hurt or killed. We come to work, not to die. And we have to keep that awareness with us at all times, if we are to live.

On Saturday, take a moment and remember those that we have lost, at the railways and in all of labour.

I would also like to offer my sincere condolences to the family and friends of Lonnie Plasko, Engineer and Teamster, who died at work on April 23th, 2007. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

Fraternally,

Bill Brehl
President
TCRC MWED