Canadian Labour
Periodical profile published 1979

Publisher:  Canadian Labour Congress, Ottawa
Year Published:  1979   First Published:  1979
Pages:  16  
Inactive Serial
Resource Type:  Serial Publication (Periodical)
Cx Number:  CX1034

Abstract:  Canadian Labour is a bi-weekly magazine published in both English and French by the Canadian Labour Congress.

This issue of Canadian Labour features an article on some of the health and safety hazards facing coal miners and workers in related industries. The article notes the mining disaster in Glace Bay, N.S. where an explosion killed 11 miners and injured five others earlier this year. It goes on to state that if health and safety issues cannot be dealt with in mining, where workers' awareness and union commitement is strong, then it will be very difficult to improve working conditions in other industries.

As well as a high rate of accidents and deaths while working, miners also face many health hazards. The mines contain many chemicals and minerals which can lead to several forms of cancer, lung disease, and general deterioration of a person's health. There is very little research being carried out on the danger of these substances. In fact, most improvements in working conditions come after union-funded researhc and union pressure.

Some of the key proposals the unions are presenting are: reinforcement of government inspection staff and toughening of legal health standards; complete reassessment of bonus payment systems to determine if they are a cause of unsafe and unhealthy work practices; priority on general health protection, including independent research on many chemicals and minerals; the monitoring of working conditions by independent union inspection teams with the power to stop jobs they believe unsafe or unhealthy; and expansion of regular testing of employees, with unions having full access to results.

Subject Headings

• Labour Movement