Workers across the north west to observe one minute’s silence to
mark International Workers’ Memorial Day
28 April 2009
Unite the union is calling for workers across the north west to
observe one minute’s silence in their workplace to mark Workers’
Memorial Day on Tuesday 28th April 2009.
With headlines such as “Worker dies in tragic accident” sadly
all too common, Unite says that it is important that the
devastating impact of these deaths on families, friends and work
colleagues is remembered.
Workers’ Memorial Day is an opportunity to remember those
workers who have lost their lives making a living and extend a
supporting hand to their families, while ensuring that unions and
employers work together to secure the safety of the UK
workforce.
Ahead of the event in Liverpool, Unite senior industrial
organiser, Tony McQuade, said: “Too many people are killed or
injured at work each year by incidents that are wholly
preventable.”
Over 1,600 people are killed each year in the UK at work or
travelling to work, and up to 50,000 people die each year in the UK
through work-related diseases, about 5,000 from asbestos-related
diseases. Not one of these workers is publicly remembered let alone
commemorated.
Unite says that International Workers Memorial Day remembers
them all while acting as a reminder that efforts to make workplaces
safer, to reduce the appalling death toll and to minimize the
injuries and illness caused by work must be redoubled.
Mr McQuade continued: “We urge workers to take a moment to think
about those who have lost their lives through their work, and to
think what you can do to protect yourself and your work colleagues
from harm.
“Unite invites all workers to attend a local event. We ask those
who are unable to attend to observe one minute’s silence this
Tuesday at their place of work at 12 noon.”
ENDS
For further information please contact Karen Viquerat on 07768
931 316.
Notes to Editors
A minute’s silence will be held at 12.00 noon.
For HSE (2008) Health & Safety
statistics 2007/08 and north
west statistics.
North west events
Chorley
A service is being held at the Unite memorial tree, Astley Park,
Chorley on Friday 24th April. Meet at the park gate (Park
Road) at 5.50 pm.
Liverpool
An event is being organised on
the South Piazza of George's Dock Building (corner of Mann Island
and the Strand), Pier Head, Liverpool L3 1DD on Tuesday 28th April
at 12.00 noon.
Manchester
A joint trade union rally is
being held at the Peace Gardens at 11.30am – 12.30pm on 28th April.
Speakers at the event include - Tony Lloyd MP, Regional trade union
officials, TU safety reps, Linzi Herbertson, founder member of
Families Against Corporate Killers. Music by Claire Mooney.
Refreshments and workshop for safety reps on how to raise profile
of Workers’ Memorial Day, how to publicise the need for more
regulation and enforcement to make work safer at Mechanics
Institute afterwards. Download a pdf
with details.
Preston
A march and rally is being held on Saturday 25th April at
11.30 am at Preston Flag Market. For more information please
contact: Workers’ Memorial Day c/o Trade Union Education, 5th
Floor, Buckingham House, Preston PR1 3LS, Chair: Andy Birchall,
01772 223112 go www.lancashiretradeunions.org.uk
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