Category Archives: 2018

2018, 2019 Canada, Events listing, News

Canada: Governments are “largely ignoring” the Westray safety law – IAM

Day of MourningApril 28 is a Day of Mourning for thousands of Canadian workers killed or injured on the job each year, or who die from work-related diseases. On this day, we mourn, but it is also a time to insist that all levels of government do more to enforce existing health and safety laws and vigorously prosecute violations when a worker is killed or seriously injured.
The labour movement worked for years to get changes to the Criminal Code so that corporations who kill are held criminally liable. This amended law, often called the Westray law, holds employers accountable if they fail to take steps to protect the lives of their employees.
Unfortunately that law is largely being ignored by governments. There have been only a handful of prosecutions for criminal negligence and only one conviction.
It is time for fair and equal treatment before the law for workplace injuries and deaths. We have made progress protecting workers’ health and safety, but together we have to keep fighting for safer workplaces for everyone.

 

2019, 2019 Ukraine, BWI 2019, BWI Ukraine 2019, Events listing, Gallery

Ukraine: PROFBUD remembers workers who didn’t return home from work

PROFBUD, Ukraine. In memory of workers who did not come back home from their work.

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2019, 2019 Turkey, BWI 2019, BWI Turkey 2019, Events listing, graphics

Global/Turkey: BWI 28 April poster – Unions make work safer! [TURKISH]

BWI has published an International Workers’ Memorial Day poster in multiple languages, including Turkish. [here]

2019, 2019 Uganda, BWI 2019, BWI Uganda 2019, Events listing

Uganda: Safety campaigning to mark International workers’ Memorial Day

UBCCEAWU, an affiliate  of the global construction union federation Building and Wood Workers’ International (BWI), is holding an event at the Lafarge-Holcim Hilma cement plant on 26 April to mark International Workers’ Memorial Day. The aim is to raise safety awareness and the dangers of neglecting occupational safety and health.

2018, 2018 Costa Rica, BWI Costa Rica 2018, Events listing

Costa Rica: UNATROPYT held construction site meetings on 28 April

On construction sites in San Ramón BWI affiliate UNATROPYT held health, safety and security meetings to mark International Workers’ Memorial Day.

2018, 2018 USA, Events listing, Gallery, News

USA: Workers’ Memorial Week – Love, support and standing up for safety – report and pictures

The National Council for Occupational Safety and Health (National COSH) federation reported events from all over the U.S. and around the globe, 2018 was another amazing Workers’ Memorial Week.

Check out  their  blog at NationalCOSH.org for a wrap-up of just a few of the vigils, memorials, rallies and other events that took place in churches, synagogues, City Council chambers and other locations from Maine to California – and many points in between.

 

2018, BWI England 2018, BWI Scotland 2018, BWI Wales 2018, Events listing

United Kingdom: Unite says unions make work SAFE – Decent work for all!

BWI’s UK affiliate Unite produced a comprehensive list of its International Workers’ Memorial Day actions.

2018, 2018 Australia, BWI Australia 2018, Events listing

Australia: Put your boots out on 28 April

To mark International Workers’ Memorial Day CFMEU asked workers to take a photo of empty pairs of work boots and share it on social media with the hashtags #IWMD #PutYourBootsOut. BWI affiliates CFMEU and ETU  also called on their members to attend the many ACTU commemorations that took place around the country.

2018, 2018 Sri Lanka, Events listing

Sri Lanka: Unions issue 28 April warning on the deadly impact of corruption

Some trade unionists present at a 28 April forum told the ‘Business Times’ (BT) that the Labour Department is one place infested with bribery and corruption where decisions against the workers could be manipulated.

During the discussion, Leon Joseph, Secretary, National Free Trade Union pointed out that in one incident there were 350 workers taken to hospital, 100 were treated in-house, three were treated in the intensive care and one died.

The medical officer who held the post-mortem on the death of the worker ruled that the death was due to natural causes, but when the family of the worker protested and a second post-mortem was held, a completely different verdict was returned.

This shows the extent of corruption and even such professionals like medical officers could be influenced. Mr Joseph said that most of the employers do not want to reveal these accidents and in many instances they try to hide them as they are usually caused due to their negligence.

More: The Sunday Times Sri Lanka

2018, 2018 Greece, BWi Greece 2018, Events listing

Greece: OETYTE joins global campaign for safe work at Lafarge-Holcim

BWI affiliate The Greek Federation of Workers and Employees in Cement Industry (OETYTE) sent a message to LafargeHolcim management calling for safer work (below).