Today, on International Workers’ Memorial Day, we honour the workers who have died at work, or because of their work, and recommit ourselves to making workplaces safe for all workers.

Every year, 200 workers are killed at work, with more than 5,000 dying from work related diseases. We must do better.

Ensuring safe and healthy workplaces has always been one of the fundamental roles of unions, and union members play a fundamental role in making our workplaces safer.

The high price of fashion

Workplace health and safety is a global issue, and will always be union business.

Earlier this week we commemorated the 11th anniversary of the Rana Plaza collapse in Bangladesh, where 1,134 textile workers lost their lives in 2013.

The tragedy shone a global spotlight on the importance of workplace health and safety.

In the aftermath, the hard work and bravery of local and global trade unionists lead to the establishment of the International Accord for Health and Safety in the Textile and Garment Industry, which promotes safe workplaces through independent safety inspections, training programs and a complaints mechanism to safeguard workers against occupational health and safety risks.

With over 200 global brands and retailers sourcing from Bangladesh and/or Pakistan having signed the agreement to date, the initiative is continually growing, with hopes it will soon spread to other countries; improving the safety of millions more workers’ lives.

Climate crisis a present danger to workers

This year, the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) is demanding urgent action to tackle ‘Climate Risks for Workers’ – the escalating dangers posed by the climate crisis to workers globally.

 The climate crisis is no longer a distant threat; it’s a present danger to workers around the globe.It’s imperative that we demand robust policies and practices to protect our working people from the hazardous impacts of climate change.

Our call to action is clear: we must integrate climate risk assessments and emergency preparedness into our occupational safety and health standards.

Luc Triangle, ITUC General Secretary

In Australia, thanks to union members, we’re one step closer to achieving secure jobs for a safe climate with the Albanese Government introducing the Net Zero Economy Authority Bill 2024 into Parliament earlier this month.

The new Authority will drive public and private sector investment and the creation of good jobs in new, clean industries, all while supporting workers to transition to secure jobs.

This Bill stems from more than a decade of tireless campaigning by unions, with members working in coal-fired power plants leading the charge and building support across government, community, business, investors, and climate organisations.

 

New worker protections against silica will save lives

Last month, Australia moved closer towards a full ban on engineered stone, with the Government’s decision to implement new regulations to protect all workers from exposure to silica dust.

As many as 1 in 4 stonemasons are being diagnosed with silicosis following inhalation of crystalline silica dust while cutting, grinding, or drilling engineered stone, and estimates suggest that without further protections, as many as 103,000 Australian workers will develop silicosis at work.

The war on silicosis is not over, but none of the progress we have won so far would been possible without hard fought-for campaigning by unions, like the CFMEU, and the decision by unions to stop working with engineered stone from mid-2024.

Forging a future where all workers return home safely

Every worker has the right to a safe workplace. When you go to work each day, you should expect to return home uninjured and in the same state of health as when you left.

Joining your union is the best thing you can do to make your workplace safer and create a world where no workers lose their lives on the job.

Showing up to work shouldn’t mean putting your life at risk