No more workplace deaths.

Stop the Killing is a campaign to hold people criminally accountable for the health and safety of workers.

Over 1,000 workers a year are killed on the job.

Despite the power of the Criminal Code of Canada to hold corporations, their directors and executives criminally accountable for the health and safety of workers, as of early 2022, there have been only nine successful prosecutions under the Westray amendments – four in Quebec, four in Ontario and one in British Columbia. Those prosecutions resulted in the conviction of seven corporations and two individuals. Sentences have been
relatively minor.

If people where held criminally accountable for their negligence, it would deter others from callously endangering the lives of workers.

Our campaign has four asks of our provincial/territorial government:

  • Crown attorneys are educated, trained and directed to apply the Westray amendments of the Criminal Code of Canada;
  • Dedicated prosecutors are given the responsibility for health and safety fatalities;
  • Police are educated, trained and directed to apply the Westray amendments;
  • There is greater coordination among regulators, police and Crowns so that health and safety regulators are trained to reach out to police when there is a possibility that Westray amendment charges are warranted.

Led by the United Steelworkers, the campaign has support from towns and cities from across the country, law enforcement officials and professional associations.

News

Facilitators on a stage talking at the Justice Conference 2024.

Justice Conference opens in Gatineau, Que.

October 2, 2024 | News Articles

The Justice 2024 conference began today with a moving blessing by Claudette Commanda, Algonquin Elder, Indigenous rights activist and Chancellor at the University of Ottawa. Elder Commanda reminded us about the ways that life itself is a blessing. She encouraged delegates to continue working for justice. “Without justice, will there be healing, will there be […]

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Click to read the article about Justice Conference opens in Gatineau, Que.
Image for “Unacceptable” outcome to prosecution of National Steel Car for worker’s death leaves family and co-workers distraught, angry, dejected

“Unacceptable” outcome to prosecution of National Steel Car for worker’s death leaves family and co-workers distraught, angry, dejected

August 7, 2024 | News Articles

On June 6, 2022, Quoc Le, a United Steelworkers (USW) union member and a worker at the National Steel Car manufacturing plant in Hamilton, was killed on the job. Quoc Le was only 51 years old. His death marked the third preventable workplace fatality at National Steel Car in a 21-month period. Collin Grayley, 35, […]

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Click to read the article about “Unacceptable” outcome to prosecution of National Steel Car for worker’s death leaves family and co-workers distraught, angry, dejected
USW District 3 Logo

Make S#!t Better Campaign Launch – Access and Conditions of Workplace Washrooms

July 2, 2024 | District 3 memo

To: All District 3 Local Union Executives From: Scott Lunny, Director Re: Make S#!t Better Campaign Launch – Access and Conditions of Workplace Washrooms We will launch the Make S#!t Better campaign on July 8th. The campaign will have several stages. The first is a survey of members to learn about access and conditions of […]

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Click to read the article about Make S#!t Better Campaign Launch – Access and Conditions of Workplace Washrooms

Resources

Image: Dark blue flyer with toddler in a USW hat and scarf holding a Stop the Killing placard

Stop the Killing flyer

Misc. Resources
June 7, 2024
Click to view Stop the Killing flyer

Westray Act: What politicians are saying

Misc. Resources
June 4, 2024
Click to view Westray Act: What politicians are saying

Corporate Criminal Liability: 2004-2024

Research & Publications
May 24, 2024
Click to view Corporate Criminal Liability: 2004-2024

Hell’s History by Tom Sandborn

Research & Publications
September 19, 2016
Click to view Hell’s History by Tom Sandborn

Corporate Criminal Liability: 2004-2024

A review of legal cases since the enactment of the Westray amendments to the Criminal Code of Canada.

Read the legal brief

Westray Act: What politicians are saying

Quotes from current and former politicians about the Westray Act.

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Put your community on the map

Lobby your local town or city to endorse the campaign. If your town or city has not endorsed, we want to help you make that happen. Contact us if you are interested and we can help you approach your city hall with a resolution to support. It is easier than it sounds. Every town that a volunteer has approached with the campaign has endorsed. No one wants to see people killed on the job in their community.

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Westray 30: 1992-2022

May 9, 2022, marked 30 years since the Westray disaster and the USW, along with family members, elected officials and other unions gathered to commemorate the tragedy and continue the campaign to enforce the law.

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Map of endorsements

Over 50 cities and towns across Canada are endorsed the Stop the Killing campaign: including Plymouth, Nova Soctia to Edmonton, Alberta to Burns Lake British Colombia to Toronto, Ontario. Our campaign is creating concensus at the local level to pressure governments, labour officials and law enforcement to investigate workplace deaths and injuries to press charges if there is evidence of criminal negligence.

View map in fullscreen

Endorse the campaign

Read the resolution city councils are passing to enforce the Westray Amendments to the Criminal Code of Canada.

Municipal resolution to endorse

Videos and social media images

Watch videos from the USW's Stop the Killing campaign. Download social media shareables.

Videos and social media

Letters of support

Read copies of the endorsements from municipalities across Canada, to Stop the Killing and Enforce the Law.

View the letters

Hell's History

Hell's History, by former The Tyee journalist, Tom Sandborn, is an in-depth publication on the USW’s fight to prevent workplace deaths and injuries from the 1992 Westray mine disaster through 2016.

Read Hell's History

News clips

A collection of news clippings related to the USW's Stop the Killing, Enforce the Law campaign.

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News clips continued

More news clippings related to the USW's Stop the Killing, Enforce the Law campaign.

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