CUPE mourns Local 1004 member killed on the job

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwired - April 1, 2016) - CUPE 1004 and the entire CUPE family are mourning the death of Jody Taylor, a 43-year-old arborist for the Vancouver Park Board who died yesterday while on the job in Connaught Park doing the work he loved.

CUPE 1004 President Andrew Ledger joined Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson, City Manager Sadhu Johnston, Park Board Manager Malcolm Bromley, and Park Board Commissioner John Coupar at a press briefing this morning at City Hall to express condolences to Brother Taylor's family, friends and co-workers affected by this terrible event.

"On April 28, Canadians mourn workers killed on the job. It is my unfortunate duty to add Jody Taylor's name to this year's list," said Ledger.

"CUPE 1004 and the entire CUPE family express our deepest condolences to Jody's family, friends and co-workers - particularly the crew members who were with him when this tragedy unfolded."

Ledger noted that Jody, who leaves behind a ten-year-old daughter, was a much loved public employee and a dedicated arborist who for 16 years took daily pride in keeping Vancouver's parks, playgrounds and boulevards "not only beautiful but safe for the citizens of our city."

Ledger said that CUPE 1004 is actively involved in the investigation of this workplace fatality.

"When workers get up in the morning and go to work, we expect to come home alive at the end of the day," he concluded. "Tragically, this did not happen for our brother Jody. CUPE 1004 commits to redoubling our efforts to ensure that workplace safety is our highest priority."