International Workers' Memorial Day 2012 - FACK Speak Out About Workplace Deaths
Louise Taggart co-founder of Families Against Corporate Killers, whose brother Michael Adamson was electrocuted and killed at work in 2005 writes about WMD, FACK, and the impact of the Tory-led ConDem(ned) government’s mindless attacks on health and safety.
International Workers' Memorial Day is a day when FACK families remember our loved ones who have died because of work. Men, women AND children who left home one day, and did not return. But, today is not the only day we remember. As FACK families, we remember these loved ones every single day. Today I ask you to hold them in your thoughts.
And hold them there while you renew your commitment to fight like hell for the living. Because at the heart of FACK's work is the desire to prevent others losing their lives or their loved ones in incidents which could and should have been prevented.
While David Cameron talks of the "health and safety monster", the message from us FACKers could not be clearer: the sustained attacks on health and safety regulation and enforcement by this ConDem government are monstrous! Life and limb will be lost…life and limb are being lost…as a result of the continued attacks on and denigration of health and safety by politicians and also vast swathes of the media.
Health and Safety Minister Grayling's repeated refusals to meet with FACK families (three times so far), well, these refusals only serve to strengthen our resolve to make the voices of our loved ones heard from their graves.
All too often we are subjected to "burdens on business" bleatings. Grandparents who are told by their granddaughter that all she wants from Santa is a big long ladder so that daddy can climb down from the sky, they bear the real burden.
Or the mother who heads to court for the final day of her son's employer's prosecution with locks of his hair from the day he was born and the day he died, or the partner who is 8 month pregnant when her baby’s father was killed but is not entitled to any compensation, she bears the real burden.
While FACK families bear the burden of poor health and safety regulation and enforcement, we also feel a tremendous sense of responsibility to you and yours.
Cameron speaks of “an excessive health and safety culture that has become an albatross around the neck of British businesses".
Well we stand together with you intent on forming a bloody great millstone round the necks of him and his ConDem government, which they will only shift when they wake up to the reality faced by FACK families daily: the biggest and everlasting burden of a life to live without our loved ones.
We value your support and commitment to taking the fight to the politicians and enforcement authorities now more than ever before! Because, please ultimately remember this: we FACKers are fighting for your right not to walk in our shoes!
Founder Members of FACK established in July 2006
• Dawn and Paul Adams – son Samuel Adams aged 6 killed at Trafford Centre,10th October 1998
• Linzi Herbertson -husband Andrew Herbertson 29, killed at work in January 1998
• Mike and Lynne Hutin – son Andrew Hutin 20, killed at work on 8th Nov 2001
• Mick & Bet Murphy – son Lewis Murphy 18, killed at work on 21st February 2004
• Louise Taggart – brother Michael Adamson 26, killed at work on 4th August 2005
• Linda Whelan – son Craig Whelan 23, (and Paul Wakefield) killed at work on 23rd May 2004
• Dorothy & Douglas Wright – son Mark Wright 37, killed at work on 13th April 2005 26, killed at work on 4th August 2005
Fack families and supporters come from across the UK.
Whilst Louise is living in Edinburgh, trade union safety rep and FACK supporter Ivan Timson comes from Leicester.
Ivan, a Unite USR, used his Facebook page to promote Workers Memorial Day event in Leicester which was covered by a local radio station which broadcast a sound bite from 6 am to 11 am of Ivan speaking about the event.
Click his pic to hear his 30 second promotion of the Leicester event.
Ivan said on his FB page:
"We must make a stand and defend our H&S rights, for the sake of this generation and those to come. I want my sons to have safe workplaces to go to.
Didn't expect to speak at event. It was all a last minute thing. Used it to explain about the Govt classing places as low risk and how absurd it all is, and that we must make a stand for H&S. That copy is now in the hands of a Leicester MP Jon Ashworth!
Mentioned FACK as well. But it was FREEZING!"
Ivan promotes the work of FACK both on Twitter and Facebook and is prolific on the social network websites in defending health and safety and promoting Trade Union involvement in keeping workplaces safe.
He supports FACK, Hazards and the campaign group We Didn’t Vote To Die At Work on Facebook.
Ivan’s Twitter name is @Spidey__ or simply search for Ivan Timson if you wish to follow him.
Source: FACK / Louise Taggart / Ivan Tomson
See also: Families Against Corporate Killers Fight On Despite Funding Crisis
