Episode 7: Bea Zucco's Fight for Silicosis Compensation
On the Line: Stories of BC Workers
English - April 07, 2021 17:00 - 21 minutes - 15.1 MBHistory labour history union canada british columbia activism working people labor Homepage Download Apple Podcasts Google Podcasts Overcast Castro Pocket Casts RSS feed
April 28th marks Canada's annual Day of Mourning. Of course, industrial accidents are not the only risk workers face; occupational diseases, brought on by hazardous workplace conditions, have also claimed a terrible toll. One of the worst has been silicosis, a coating of the lungs by deadly silica dust inhaled by generations of hard-rock miners. To mark this month's Day of Mourning, we bring you the story of Bea Zucco: a third generation pioneer from Grand Forks, BC and a miner's wife. Ordinary in so many ways, and yet absolutely extraordinary in her determination to see justice prevail and secure a WCB pension for her silicosis-stricken husband. This is her story.
Learn more: labourheritagecentre.ca/zucco
FEATURED MUSIC:
Theme song: "Hold the Fort" - Arranged & Performed by Tom Hawken & his band, 1992. Part of the "On to Ottawa" film produced by Sara Diamond.
"Silicosis is Killin' Me" - First recorded by Pinewood Tom, a pseudonym for Joshua White, February 26, 1936, on Conqueror #8673.
"Cold, Cold Heart" - Written and performed by Hank Williams.
INTERVIEWS:
Clips of Bea Zucco are from a recording conducted by Les Johnson on behalf of the Boundary Historical Society. It was one of a series of "Living Books" events that took place early in 2013, hosted by gallery 2, the art gallery in Grand Forks BC.
VOICEOVERS:
"1950's Bea" - Lucie MacNeil
"WCB/journalist" - John Mabbott
RESEARCH:
Research and script for this episode by Patricia Wejr and Rod Mickleburgh.