Time, Date & Location:
7:00 p.m.
Thursday, January 7, 2010
2757 Kipling Avenue

(TORONTO) -- On the eve of a public vigil honouring the victims of the Christmas Eve scaffolding collapse tragedy, the Ontario Federation of Labour, on behalf of its affiliate unions and more than one million members in the province, offer our deepest sympathies to the families of the slain workers and to the surviving victim.

On December 24, 2009, Fayzullo Fazilov, 31, of Uzbekistan; Aleksey Blumberg, 33, of Ukraine; Alexander Bondorev, 25, originally from Latvia; and Vladimir Korostin, 40, originally from Uzbekistan were tragically killed. The five workers fell from outside a 13th-floor balcony at 2757 Kipling Ave, when the swingstage they were on suddenly snapped in half. Dilshod Marupov, 21, originally from Uzbekistan, suffered broken legs and a shattered spine and is the only survivor.

The Ontario Federation of Labour has conveyed an offer of any support or services to Mr. Marupov and the surviving families that they might need.

“This is a terrible, terrible human tragedy, and to the families of the men who perished, and to Mr. Marupov who survived with grave injuries, I can only say how deeply saddened we are by the loss they have experienced,” said Ontario Federation of Labour president Sid Ryan. “What we must remember is that there are far more than five victims of this tragedy. Each of these men was also someone’s son, someone’s brother, someone’s husband, someone’s father. The families of the victims are suffering deeply and they deserve the unconditional support of the community and our government.”

The vigil, which has been organized by community groups No One is Illegal Toronto and Justicia for Migrant Workers will be held at 2757 Kipling Avenue, the site of the tragedy, and is scheduled to begin at 7:00 p.m.

“Now is the time when our whole community must come together. We all owe sincere thanks to No One Is Illegal and Justicia for pulling people together in this way,” said Ryan. “The labour movement will have a large presence there to show support for the families, and we would ask anyone who can attend to come out and join with us in remembrance and solidarity.”

Contact:
Sid Ryan
President, Ontario Federation of Labour

416.209.0066 (cellular)

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© The Ontario Federation of Labour        http://www.ofl.ca