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Workers Memorial Day - Official Recognition Moves A Step Closer

The CWU has welcomed the public consultation on the government proposals for official UK recognition of Workers Memorial Day. This is long standing CWU Annual Conference Policy and something the Union has been calling upon government and the prime minister to do since 1997.

National Health and Safety Officer Dave Joyce said,

“The fact that some people go out to work and never return home to their families is a human tragedy.  Workers Memorial Day is a mark of respect to those killed and injured at work and to the bereaved.  We're pleased at long last that the government is looking at the UK officially recognising the day, like so many other nations have already done."

Commenting on the government and parliament attitude, Dave said,

"They know there is a huge amount of support for Workers Memorial Day and recognising Workers Memorial Day in the UK would also provide an annual focal point for the importance of healthy and safe workplaces. The CWU strongly welcomes and commends the Government’s announcement and I only regret that it took the Labour Government 12 years to reach this position. I see this as only the beginning and long term want to see Workers Memorial Day develop and become a focal point for young people, raising awareness of the potential dangers at work and the importance of a safe place of work and safe working methods. My only fear is that after the forthcoming general election we may have in place a government not sympathetic to workers health and safety."

Dave JoyceReminding people of the dangers of a Tory government and it's threat to health and safety, Dave continued,

" Workers need to think very carefully about the prospects of a Tory Government. In August 2007, John Redwood unveiled a controversial plan to sweep away a plethora of health and safety laws and regulations which he said was impeding business. Tory Party leader David Cameron subsequently endorsed the plans. The further deregulation of the telecommunications market and privatisation of Royal Mail would obviously figure in their economic plans and public services spending cuts would no doubt fall heavily on the HSE as it did mercilessly under the last Tory administration which adopted the approach of where it couldn't weaken EU Health and Safety Law it simply weakened its enforcement in the UK."

Decades of struggle by workers and their Unions have resulted in significant improvements in working conditions. But the toll of workplace injuries, illnesses and deaths remains enormous. Each year, 2 million workers die due to unsafe or unhealthy work and workplaces around the globe. Millions more are injured or diseased because of their jobs. The CWU and other Unions across the World remember these workers, especially CWU members who have died at work, on April 28, International Workers Memorial Day. Trade unionists around the world now join us to mark this day of mourning.

International Workers Memorial Day takes place annually around the world on April 28. It is a day of remembrance for workers killed, injured or made ill by their work and a day on which workers call for safer workplaces and working conditions. The Workers Memorial Day slogan is “Remember the Dead and Fight for the Living”.

Following its inception in Canada in 1984, Workers Memorial Day is already recognised as a national day in many countries around the world including Argentina, Belgium, Brazil, Luxembourg, Peru, Portugal, Spain, Thailand, Taiwan and the USA.

Hazards Magazine & websiteInternational Workers Memorial Day was brought to the UK in 1992 by the Hazards Campaign, which has been campaigning for its recognition along with Trade Unions including CWU and other safety campaigning organisations. The CWU first wrote to the then Prime Minister Tony Blaire in 1997 calling for official recognition.

Since the early 1990s Workers Memorial Day has become the focal point for an increasing number of commemorative events involving the bereaved families of dead workers, trade unionists, the TUC, Trade Unions, Safety Representatives, the Hazards Campaign, FACK, Government bodies and Local Authorities among others.

In 2001, the International Labour Organisation (ILO) recognised Workers Memorial Day and announced April 28 as an International Day of Action for Safety and Health at Work, which is an annual international campaign to promote safe, healthy and decent work around the globe.

2005 saw the beginning of a process to have the 28 April Day officially adopted by the UN General Assembly.

In 2009, at long last, the current Prime Minister Gordon Brown and DWP Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, James Purnell conveyed their support to all those people around the world commemorating Workers Memorial Day and announced that the government would look at how the UK could join the many other countries that officially recognise International Workers Memorial Day and confirmed that a consultation will look at how the Day could be officially recognised.

The CWU response to the Public Consultation has been circulated via Letters To Branches.

Source: Dave Joyce CWU



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