| I had the pleasure of attending the Links to Life Conference at the CEP hall on Nov 26&27/04. The Workers Health and Safety Center, Sarnia District Labour Council, Victims of Chemical Valley and the OHCOW clinic sponsored it. On the Friday night we had the honor of listening to Homer Seguin of the United Steel Workers of America national union. He talked about the Elliot Lake issues of the 70's, which brought about the Occupational Health and Safety Act and created the Hamm Commission. The other speaker was Gilles Bisson an NDP, MP. |
|
| On the Saturday we heard from Dr. McKenzie. He ended up substituting for Jenny Schieman of the OHCOW clinic. He spoke on the rise of finding Pleural Plaques and the evidence that they are caused by the exposure to asbestos. The next speaker of the day was Sandi Kinart her husband was Blayne and he died from mesothelioma. He had worked at various places around the valley in his life but the major portion was spent at Welland Chemical. Sandi talked about the fight that ensued to get WSIB to recognize his illness as work related. She also discussed the processes that fought her and how she over came them. Sandi has put a book together that explains the forms and where the hurdles were and how she over came them. All in all this was probably one of the most powerful speeches that I have heard come from any ones heart. |
|
| After a much-needed emotional rest period we heard from Ivan Hillier. He talked about his fight over about 2 decades to end the mercury pollution going to the St. Clair River from DOW. He also discussed how his action alienated him from his supervisors and even his co-workers. In the end he said it was all worth it for the lives and illnesses prevented in the outside community. |
|
| After a lunch break a work shop was held on strategies and solutions we can use to help us in our fight for healthier and safer work places. This was quite informative especially the section handed out from the CAW collective agreement on the Health and Safety language written into it. This was the final part of the conference except for the awards banquet held later in the evening after dinner. |
|
| I would like to thank John Millholland and the local for recognizing all the hard work and dedication that Dan put in over the many years with the union. |
|
| To end the night we heard from Minister of Labour Chris Bentley and the president of the OFL Wayne Samuelson. |
|
|
| Pete vanWijnen |
|
