Four Months On And Do You Still Remember Those Killed At Work?

Only through constantly remembering those killed at work, and reminding the public of them; will we be able to successfully defend working people against the attacks on workplace health and safety protection that this present government are committed to. That, if nothing else, should be the legacy of Workers Memorial Day 2013 held in April.

But four months on, and do you still remember those killed at work, and their loved ones sentenced to mourn their loss for the rest of their lives?

Sadly, probably not!

This year's WMD ceremonies on Sunday 28th April held across the UK were in some places the scene of large gatherings, but in the majority few people attended their local event; with the majority of the public never being aware that such a day exists.

So here, as a reminder is a few words about the event that took place in Liverpool that day:

Liverpool Workers Memorial Day Event

With a cloudy sky and a cold strong wind the Mann Island area on the banks of the River Mersey near Liverpool's Pier Head Ferry Terminal; saw over 100 working people gather to honour and remember those killed whilst at work, not just in Merseyside, but across the country and the world.

Several key speakers referred to the yearly carnage in the world's worekplaces, and indeed in the 1 minutes silence; those killed in the Bangladesh disaster working for a Primark clothing manufacturer; were at the centre of our thoughts.

Members of Families Against Corporate Killers attended as well as Tony Kearns from the CWU, Peter Singleton from the Police Federation and Labour's Liverpool Walton MP Steve Rotheram.

Derek Maylor, NW BT Unions Health and Safety Co-ord Chairperson said:

"We should never forget those who have been cruelly and recklessly taken from the arms of their loved ones, and the courage of the families who are left to mourn their passing. We all need to support them and fight to stop others from suffering the same needless fate."

Chris Ingram, Unionsafety web edtior recalled:

"As the event came to a close, the heavens opened and down came the rain. A rather fitting end and one that reminded me of Scott Walker's rendition of a Burt Bacharach / Hal David song entitled ‘The Windows Of The World’.

Although obstensively an anti-war song, the final verse says it all for me about the needless loss of human lives of workers, all in the name of human greed:

"The windows of the world are covered with rain,
There must be something we can do.
Everybody knows whenever rain appears
It's really angel tears.
How long must they cry?
Let the sun shine through."

Justice will never be done by those who have given their lives in order to ensure profits and the lifestyles of the few who take everything from the many."

You can listen to Scott Walker singing 'The Windows Of The World' here

Source: Unionsafety

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