Unite urges minute’s silence for Workers’ Memorial Day on 28 April
21st April 2010
Unite, the largest union in the country, is urging its 1.6
million members to hold a minute’s silence to mark International
Workers’ Memorial Day on Wednesday, 28 April.
Unite is supporting the TUC’s lead which is encouraging all
workplaces to hold a minute’s silence at noon. This year’s theme -
Unions Make Work Safer - was set by the International TUC.
Unite joint general secretary, Derek Simpson, said: ”In the UK
alone some estimates put deaths from work-related diseases at about
50,000 a year. And if you add over a thousand further deaths from
work-related driving and hundreds from accidents, the overall
picture for our workers is horrendous.
”Unite is determined those deaths will not go unnoticed and that
Workers’ Memorial Day is in the minds of every family in Britain.
With our aim of a global union we will continue to campaign for
this day to be recognised across the globe, as two million of our
fellow workers are killed every year worldwide.
”We do welcome the government’s support, and with an election
coming up we want workplace safety and health firmly on the
politicians’ agenda.
”Unless a Labour government is returned, we face deregulation,
fewer health and safety inspectors, greater self-auditing of health
and safety compliance by employers, and employers stopping
inspectors entering their premises.”
Unite joint general secretary, Tony Woodley, said: ”We want to
encourage Unite members to take part in Workers’ Memorial Day
activities in their area and for their employers to recognise the
day - to remember the dead and fight for the
living.
”Unite members’ many planned activities include organising
services of remembrance and the laying of wreaths, holding a
minute’s silence, and participating in health and safety workshops,
and conferences and rallies.
”This is the first year where Workers’ Memorial Day has official
government recognition in the UK, something we have been
campaigning for, and which we strongly welcome.
”Published statistics underestimate the true picture. Health and
safety would be taken far more seriously if the public were fully
aware of the real scale of deaths and injuries. Safety and health
standards are far higher within union organised workplaces than
those that have no union influence.”
More details and the growing list of events can be found on the
TUC
website.
Details of events organised by Unite members can be found on
Unite's events pages.
Please notify Susan Murray and Clare Baker of any impending
events scheduled for 28 April by email susan.murray@unitetheunion.org.
clare.baker@unitetheunion.org
Email to a friend
