2017, 2017 Brazil, Events listing

Brasil: 28 de Abril – Dia Mundial em Memória das Vítimas de Acidentes e Doenças do Trabalho

Below, details of activities organised in Brasil, by the national trade union forum on work and health. Among a range of demands, the unions call for new investment in health and safety, including enforcement. They highlight the risks of insecure work, a rise in unemployment and an erosion of employment rights and welfare benefits. Calling for a workers to join a strike, the poster says labour reforms have led to more accidents and more deaths at work. Related note from Isamar Escalona of Confederación Sindical de Trabajadores/as de las Américas follows…

Estimado, compartimos con ustedes el material elaborado por las centrales brasileriras a través del Fórum Nacional de las centrales sindicales brasileras sobre Salud Laboral, a proposito del 28 de abril.

Prezados/as companheiros/as,
O Fórum Nacional das Centrais Sindicais em Saúde do Trabalhador, tendo em vista o desmonte do Sistema Único de Saúde com o congelamento do investimento em Saúde por 20 anos com forte impacto nas políticas publicas de vigilância e proteção da saúde do trabalhador; seguido do sancionamento da lei 4302/98 que institui a terceirização em todas as atividades das empresas, precarizando as condições de trabalho , bem como; a reforma trabalhista que retira e flexibiliza direitos duramente conquistados nas últimas décadas e; a reforma da previdência que dificulta a aposentadoria e restringe direitos aos benefícios acidentários/previdenciários. Portanto, diante do cenário de dificuldades, o Fórum decidiu denunciar à sociedade no dia 28 de Abril as consequências das reformas impostas pelo atual Governo Michel Temer que atinge duramente o conjunto da classe trabalhadora no Brasil, que ainda vem sendo atingida pelo desemprego e perda de renda. Nesse sentido , afim de dar publicidade , aproveitamos para encaminhar link abaixo para impre os anexos para postagem nas redes sociais e internet.

Isamar Escalona
Responsable de los Programas de Economía Informal y Salud Laboral
CSA – Confederación Sindical de Trabajadores/as de las Américas
isamar.escalona@csa-csi.org

2017, 2017 panama, Events listing

Panama: SUNTRACS starts April 28th Campaign

In April, many trade unions affiliated to the Building and Wood Workers’ International (BWI) are active to pay tribute to workers who died at work, but also those who have been injured and ill due to poor working conditions in the construction and wood industries.

This is why, on April 3rd, the Union of Construction Workers (SUNTRACS) of Panama, through its Occupational Health and Safety Secretariat, started activities with a press conference and a march to the Public Ministry as part of their struggle to seek the criminalization of work accidents. The slogan adopted by SUNTRACS to this 2017 April 28 Campaign is “A Death… A Stoppage”, a slogan adopted by BWI in Latin America and the Caribbean region for the past seven years.

Among the actions planned by SUNTRACS this month: project inspections, a health and safety forum, seminars, pickets, posters, placards and meetings with health and occupational safety institutions.

http://www.bwint.org/default.asp?Index=7759&Language=EN

2017, 2017 panama, Events listing

Panamá: SUNTRACS inicia campaña por el 28 de Abril

El mes de abril muchos sindicatos afiliados a la Internacional de Trabajadores de la Construcción y la Madera (ICM), se activan para rendir homenaje a los trabajadores y trabajadoras fallecidos en jornadas de trabajo, pero también aquellos que han quedado lisiados y con enfermedades profesionales, a causa de las malas condiciones de trabajo en las industrias de la construcción y madera, consideradas a nivel global, como las de mayor riesgo para los trabajadores.

Con esto, el pasado 3 de abril, el Sindicato Único Nacional de Trabajadores de la Industria de la Construcción y Similares de Panamá (SUNTRACS), a través de su secretaria de salud y seguridad ocupacional, inició actividades con una conferencia de prensa y una marcha hacia el Ministerio Público en exigencia a una investigación que busque la penalización de los accidentes de trabajo. El lema adoptado por el SUNTRACS para la campaña del 28 de abril es “una muerte…un paro”, lema que ha adoptado la ICM en los últimos 7 años en la región de América Latina y el Caribe.

Entre las acciones que estará implementando SUNTRACS durante un mes tenemos: inspecciones a proyectos, un foro de salud y seguridad, seminarios, piqueteos, pega de afiches, colocación de pancartas y reuniones con instituciones de salud y de seguridad laboral.

http://www.bwint.org/default.asp?Index=7748&Language=ES

2017, 2017 spain, graphics

UGT: 28 de Abril: La discriminación en el trabajo pone en peligro la salud y seguridad de todas las personas trabajadoras

Spanish trade union UGT has produced a poster, manifesto and pamphlet  in commemoration of April 28th, International Day of Health and Safety at Work 2017.

Contact
ANA GARCÍA DE LA TORRE
Secretaria de Salud Laboral y Medio Ambiente
C/Hortaleza, 88 – 28004 Madrid
Email: slaboral@cec.ugt.org
Tfnº 915890952  – 915897812
Fax: 915890953
http://www.ugt.es/saludlaboral/


2017, 2017 spain, graphics

La discriminación en el trabajo pone en peligro la salud y seguridad de todas las personas trabajadoras

Below, CC.OO poster based on the ITUC/Hazards poster for 28 April. It features on the front page of the Comisiones Obreras website, together with a briefing.

The ITUC/Hazards poster is available here (in English, other languages to follow).

ITUC’s briefing on inequalities in occupational health is available here:

2017, 2017 UK, News

Britain: Protection call after surge in racist abuse of workers

Workers need protection from the upsurge in racist assaults and abuse at work since the Brexit vote last year, the TUC has said. The The ‘shocking results’ of a poll of over 1,000 Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) working adults by the TUC and ICM revealed over a third had witnessed or experienced racial abuse in the seven months following the referendum vote and almost one in five (19 per cent) had suffered or witnessed a racial assault.

TUC Stronger Unions blog and TUC/IBM BAME poll. TUC guide to violence at work. Risks 795.

News, Resources

Insegura e injusta, Unsafe and unfair, Dangereuse et injuste – ITUC-CSI

28 de Abril de 2017: Insegura e injusta – la discriminación en el trabajo nos afecta a todos
28 April 2017: Unsafe and unfair – discrimination on the job hurts us all
28 Avril 2017 : Dangereuse et injuste – la discrimination au travail nuit à toutes

Below are links to an op-ed by Sharan Burrow, general secretary of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), on the 28 April 2017 global theme of ‘Unsafe and unfair – discrimination on the job hurts us all’. It deals with the way inequalities in the workplace, particularly based on class, race or gender, lead to a heightened risk of work-related injury or ill-health.

The document is available in Spanish, French and English versions with an accompanying briefing/work book.

Fair enough? We are all sickened by inequality at work – Hazards magazine
28 April 2017: Unsafe and unfair – discrimination on the job hurts us all

¿Les parece justo? La desigualdad en el trabajo nos enferma a todos – Hazards magazine
28 de abril de 2017: Insegura e injusta – la discriminación en el trabajo nos afecta a todos 

Vraiment? Nous sommes toutes et tous écœurés par l’inégalité au travail – Hazards magazine
28 avril 2017 : Dangereuse et injuste – la discrimination au travail nuit à toutes et à tous

2017, 2017 Global, 2017 UK, News

BWI: 28 April Unions make work safer!

Each year on the 28th April trade unions around the world organise events to celebrate International Workers’ Memorial Day. This year, the BWI is pleased to confirm the international theme “Unions Make Work Safer.”

Considerable responsibility falls on trade unions to ensure that employers take steps to avoid health risks and save workers’ lives as workers continue to be killed, injured and made sick whilst carrying out routine jobs. The hazards are well known and so are the prevention measures. The overwhelming majority of “accidents” are absolutely predictable and preventable. They are caused by failure to manage risks, or by straightforward negligence on the part of the employer.

Against this background, BWI affiliates all over the world are encouraged to campaign and pick up one or several sub themes hereunder:

  • cement, construction and wood: “One death is too many”. BWI’s recent survey on cement stresses that 83% of fatalities in the cement sector are taking place in subcontracted operations. 30% of the cement plants surveyed report at least one death over the last 3 years and 60% recognize occupational diseases. Figures that contrast with managerial practices since 20% of the plants still do not have regular medical visits for workers. In construction and wood industries, for almost all key risks – chemicals, dusts, manual handling, physical hazards, and psychosocial hazards – exposures are routine and excessive. Sawmills are by far the most dangerous workplaces, and are increasingly subcontracted and informal, leading to deteriorating conditions for workers.
  • migrants: “No to xenophobia at work”. In many countries throughout the world, migrant workers are faced with unsafe, dirty, and dangerous working conditions. At the same time, they fall victim to racism and xenophobia particularly more so due to the rise of anti-migrant and xenophobic rhetoric.
  • women: “No to gender based violence at work”. More than 35% of women worldwide have experienced physical and/or sexual violence. Between 40% and 50% of women experience unwanted sexual advances, physical contact or other forms of sexual harassment at work.
  • asbestos kills: “Ban asbestos – the killer dust”. At least 100,000 people die from asbestos diseases every year, according to international estimates. The real figure is certainly even higher than that as there is no reliable recording of the medical cases in many countries. Furthermore, many victims do not know that they were exposed to asbestos and, because of the long time lag between exposure and the emergence of the symptoms, asbestos diseases are not correctly diagnosed, treated, compensated or, most importantly, prevented.

    Please ensure you send us the details of your planned activities, any resources and artwork you produce for 28 April 2017. You are invited to send them to us by email info@bwint.org

    We will post all these materials on the BWI website.

    Amandla! Power to the Workers.

http://www.bwint.org/default.asp?Index=7671&Language=EN

2017, 2017 usa, graphics, Resources

USA 2017 Workers Memorial Day materials are ready

The 2017 Workers Memorial Day materials are ready. The theme this year is “Safe. Jobs. Every Worker’s Right.” The materials have been posted on the AFL-CIO website.

Multiple copies of materials are available for ordering (order form available on the AFL-CIO website). I urge you to distribute the materials widely and to organize or participate in Workers Memorial Day events. (A website for posting and listing events will be available shortly).

After years of struggle we won new rules to protect workers from deadly silica dust and beryllium, a tougher coal dust standard for miners and stronger anti-retaliation protections for workers who report job injuries. But these hard-won gains are now threatened. The Trump administration has launched an all-out assault on regulations. The president has ordered that for every new protection, two existing safeguards must be removed from the books. At the same time Republicans in Congress have moved quickly to overturn new rules issued by the Obama administration.  Agency budgets and enforcement programs are on the chopping block. The safety and health of workers and the public are in danger.

We need to organize and fight back. Please get involved and organize actions, activities, or observances in your workplaces and communities to highlight the toll of job injuries and deaths. Demand that elected officials put workers’ well-being above corporate interests. And demand jobs that are safe and healthy and pay fair wages. Make it clear that the labor movement will defend the right of every worker to a safe job and fight until that promise is fulfilled.

For additional information and to order copies of materials, please contact the AFL-CIO Safety and Health Department at 202-637-5366, or visit the AFL-CIO website at: www.aflcio.org/WorkersMemorialDay.

In Solidarity,

Peg Seminario
Safety and Health Director
AFL-CIO

2017, News

USA: Study exposes racial inequalities in work injuries

Fewer economic opportunities may be exposing black and Hispanic workers in the US to an increased risk of workplace injury, according to a new study. Researchers from the University of Southern California and Boston University found that even after adjusting for variables such as education, sex and age, black and foreign-born Hispanic workers often worked in jobs with the highest injury risks and as a result experienced higher rates of work-related disabilities.

Seth A Seabury, Sophie Terp and Leslie I Boden. Racial and ethnic differences in the frequency Of workplace injuries And prevalence of work-related disability, Health Affairs, volume 36, number 2, pages 266-273, February 2017. The Pump Handle. Risks 789

Remember the dead, fight like hell for the living