To mark International Workers’ Memorial Day, a new short film has been launched today (Saturday) by the Wales Trade Union Congress to highlight the difference that trade union health and safety representatives have made in workplaces.
The animation (in both Welsh and English Version) shows how health and safety reps are ensuring that unionised workplaces are safer workplaces, with evidence showing that injury and sickness rates are lower in workplaces with higher numbers of union members.
It is launched alongside a message (In Welsh and English Versions) from the First Minister, Carwyn Jones, who urges people across Wales to join a trade union to make their workplaces safer.
Mike Jenkins and Julie Cook – President and National Officer of Wales TUC – pay their respects on International Workers’ Memorial Day in 2014.
Every year more people are killed at work than in wars. Most don’t die of mystery ailments, or in tragic “accidents”. They die because an employer decided their safety just wasn’t that important a priority. Workers’ Memorial Day (WMD) commemorates those workers.
Workers’ Memorial Day is held on 28 April every year, all over the world workers and their representatives conduct events, demonstrations, vigils and a whole host of other activities to mark the day.
The day is also intended to serve as a rallying cry to “remember the dead, but fight for the living”.
The TUC coordinates activities across the country, publishing a comprehensive listing of events nationally and suggestions. A listing of the global activities is available from the Hazards website.
In 2018 the theme of Workers’ Memorial Day is Unionised workplaces are safer workplaces
Find an event near you
If you are organising an event for Workers Memorial Day and would like it displayed on these pages, then please email through the details to healthandsafety@tuc.org.uk.
Wales TUC is to produce a short animation for Workers’ Memorial Day, 28 April. The union body will be launching it digitally, along with a pre-recorded item from the First Minister. The animation will focus on the difference that health and safety reps can make at work.
