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Readers of this website will know that this year's International Worker's Memorial Day event on 28th April included the unveiling of a plaque in remembrance of Trade Unionist and Liverpool councilor, Tony Mulhearn who spent his life fighting for worker's rights and in particular for safety at work.

Family members were in attendance on the day, and following this a letter from Lynn Mulhearn Harrison was published in the Liverpool Echo giving thanks to the organisers, MAVS (Merseyside Asbestos Victims Support), and trade union branches on Merseyside for funding and determining that a plaque, complete with Tony's own words said at his last attendance of the IWMD 2019 event in Liverpool; should be installed adjacent to the existing Tunnel Memorial on the Mersey Tunnel Ventilation Shaft on The Strand:

Lynn Mulhearn Harrison's letter of thanks as printed in the Echo:

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Remember the Dead, Fight For The Living

Workers deaths remembered

On behalf of my family, the 7 children of the late Tony Mulhearn, I write to thank the organisers of the International Workers Memorial Day (IWMD) for our invitation to unveil a plaque to our late father.

The global event held annually on 28th April and commemorated at ceremonies in many major cities reminds us of those, like my later father, who’s work caused his death. The day’s speakers reminded us of all who had lost their lives tragically at work and because of their work including asbestos related conditions. Upper most in our minds on the day all those who had died working for the NHS as medics and ancillary staff working to keep us safe under horrendous conditions and often lacking even basic PPE.

The day has as its banner message Remember the Dead, Fight For The Living, my father fought all his adult life with this principle as his guide.

The day had to be low key due to Covid 19 restrictions however this didn’t dampen the speakers passion and  heartfelt words with demands that governments around the world should ensure the health safety and welfare  of all workers in order that they return home to their families each evening and not be cut down in their prime of life adding to the grim total of deaths from work estimated by the Hazards campaign as:

In Britain, work kills 140 people a day!
6 people are killed per hour!

The UN-ILO estimates worldwide, work kills more than war every year! Worldwide work kills a minimum of 2.78 million people every year!

As Jukka Takala of the ILO said “If terrorism took such a toll, just imagine what would be said and done?”

These are shocking statistics and I thanks the organisers of the event for highlighting these grim statistics.

Due to work at the Pier Head the plaque will be unveiled at its permanent site of on Georges Dock Building, on The Strand later this year.

Lynn Mulhearn Harrison 

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For photos and reports see: International Workers Memorial Day2021 Liverpool Event

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