New Zealand: 28 April events update – NZCTU

NZCTU is holding the following events to mark International Workers” Memorial Day on 28 April:

Palmerston North (Unions Manawatu) 12pm – Workers’ Memorial, Memorial Park Fitzroy St entrance

Wellington (CTU) 10.00am – Workers’ Memorial stone, Wellington Waterfront, (near Te Papa entrance) Facebook event page

Christchurch (Unions Canterbury) 11.45am – Memorial Garden, off Gasson St, Sydenham

Dunedin (Unions Otago) 11.45am – Otago Workers’ Memorial, Market Reserve Princes St

Find more details on NZCTU’s dedicated 28 April pages

Resources including the

Artificial Intelligence in the Workplace: A Resource for New Zealand Trade Unions and the

Unions make work safe poster are also available from that page.

New Zealand: Artificial intelligence in the workplace: A resource for New Zealand trade unions

NZCTU has developed Artificial Intelligence in the Workplace: A Resource for New Zealand Trade Unions – a resource guide on the topic of this year’s 28 April theme.

The introduction of AI in workplaces can create significant health and safety risks for workers (such as intensification of work, and extreme surveillance) which can significantly impact workers’ mental and physical wellbeing.

It is critical that unions and workers are involved in any decision to introduce AI so that these risks can be eliminated, and that the benefits and productivity gains are shared with the workforce.

The NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi has developed Artificial Intelligence in the Workplace: A Resource for New Zealand Trade Unions to support workers and their unions to ensure that workers benefit from the introduction of AI and are not harmed by it.

UK: Over 50,000 a year die because of work – Hazards Campaign

The impact of AI and digitisation on the fundamental right to occupational health and safety

Remember the dead, Fight for the Living

Every year on 28 April we remember over 50,000 people in the UK, who have died because of work.

We call on all workers to participate or organise an event in their workplace, community or trade union to remember those who have been killed by work and to campaign for  safer and healthier work

Read more on the  true figures of workplace deaths and injuries  www.hazardscampaign.org.uk/thewholestory

www.hazardscampaign.org.uk

 

UK: Technology shouldn’t be the boss of you. #iwmd25

Hazards magazine warns that the UK’s rush to exploit AI, algorithmic management and automation could be dangerous for workers, with work intensification, psychosocial problems and management by algorithm making work more unsafe and more unfair. A special report for International Workers’ Memorial Day, 28 April 2025.

Code red: AI and digitalisation – technology shouldn’t be the boss of youHazards magazine report, April 2025.

Canada: Workers’ Day of Mourning | April 28, 2025 | CUPE Saskatchewan

On April 28, we gather to mourn workers who have been killed, injured, or made ill because of workplace hazards or incidents – and recognize the lasting impact on their families and communities. Attend vigils on April 28 in Regina (City Hall at 5:30 p.m.), Moose Jaw (Union Centre at 6:00 p.m.), Saskatoon (Civic Square at 6:00 p.m.), and Weyburn (T.C. Douglas Calvary Centre at 5:30 p.m.).

In 2024, 27 workers in Saskatchewan lost their lives due to work-related causes, not including farm-related fatalities or other workplaces that are not covered or reported by workers’ compensation. 10 fatalities were due to occupational disease and 17 fatalities were from traumatic incidents (four motor vehicle collisions, equipment contact and drowning).

The Workers’ Day of Mourning is a call to “Mourn for the Dead, Fight for the Living ”, created by CUPE members more than 40 years ago to remember those who lost their lives on the job and to inspire other workers to fight to prevent further tragedies. Visit the CUPE Saskatchewan health and safety hub for more resources.

 

 

 

 

 

 

As trade unionists, we also know the importance of holding employers accountable to recognize and address the impacts of systemic understaffing – including the resulting stress and over work on the health of public service workers, the need to address and prevent exposure to violence on the job, and the importance of a psychologically safe working conditions and the prevention of mental health injuries. The health and safety of workers includes the prevention of mental health injuries from work, the prevention of suicide, and recognizing psychosocial hazards.


Attend a vigil in your community:

Regina & District Labour Council

  • Where: Regina City Hall (2476 Victoria Avenue) * In the event of inclement weather, the ceremony may move indoors to the Regina Union Centre (2709 – 12th Avenue)
  • When: Monday, April 28th at 5:30 pm
  • Contact: Dee Wagner, President, wagnerdee5@gmail.com

Moose Jaw & District Labour Council

  • Where: Moose Jaw Union Centre (1402 Caribou Street West) * The event will be held outdoors, however, in the event of inclement weather, the ceremony will be held inside the main hall. Annual vigil, wreath laying
  • When: Monday, April 28th at 6:00 pm
  • Contact: Deidre Wilson, President, mjdlcpresident@gmail.com

Saskatoon & District Labour Council

  • Where: Civic Square (222 3rd Avenue North, Saskatoon)
  • When: Monday, April 28th at 6:00 pm
  • Annual vigil, wreath laying. *If you would like to present a commemorative to your fellow workers, please register prior to the ceremony starting at 6:00pm.
  • Contact: Don MacDonald, President, sdlc@sasktel.net

Weyburn & District Labour Council

  • Where: T.C. Douglas Calvary Centre (#400-10th Avenue, Weyburn)
  • When: Monday, April 28th at 5:30 pm
  • Annual vigil, wreath laying
  • Contact: Wanda Bartlett, President, wbartlett@sasktel.net

https://sk.cupe.ca/2025/04/15/workers-day-of-mourning-april-28-2025/

Philippines: An evening of performance for justice, health, and safety – IOHSAD

May be a graphic of ‎text that says "‎Gabi ng Pagtatanghal para sa Katarungan, Kalusugan at Kaligtasan SIKLAB: Sining, Kultura at Paglaban Commemorating International Workers' Memorial Day and the 10th Year of the Kentex Factory Fire April 25, 2025, Friday I@HSAD Polytechnic University of the Philippines- Amphitheater ΆлA 純 អនំម្រុស โกามว 24447 C a LETTERS בומבשט မမ၀ေင်-တ LIKHA MAYDAY NULTIMEDIA‎"‎
SiKLab: Sining, Kultura, at Paglaban
This April 25, let us unite in remembrance of the workers who have lost their lives, and stand in unwavering solidarity with those who continue to face inhumane and unsafe working conditions. Through the power of art and collective action, we invite everyone to SiKLab — an evening of remembrance, reckoning, and resistance.
In commemoration of the International Workers’ Memorial Day and the 10th Anniversary of the Kentex Factory Fire, this night of performances is dedicated to workers who, to this day, are denied safe workplaces, adequate protection, and dignified livelihoods.
Through art — from poetry and music to theater and visual expression — we amplify the voices of the oppressed and the abused. This night recognizes the power of culture not just as a vessel for creative expression but as a force for resistance and a call for collective change.
This gathering is a collaborative effort organized by the Institute for Occupational Health and Safety Development (IOHSAD), Concerned Artists of the Philippines, Kalinga ni San Jose Manggagawa Workers Center, LIKHA, Mayday Multimedia, Pahatid Kalatas, Tulos Baybay, and the Union of PUP Educators (UGPUP).
Venue: Polytechnic University of the Philippines – Amphitheater
Date: April 25, 2025 | Friday, 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM

This event will feature progressive cultural artists, workers, youth, and long-standing groups shaping the art of liberation.

Don’t miss it — let’s ignite the night with art, culture, and resistance!

Europe: ETUI/ETUC invitation “From data to directive: confronting work-related psychosocial risks in the EU”

From Data to Directive: Confronting Work-Related Psychosocial Risks in the EU.

28 April 2025, 09:00 – 16:00 CET 

Venue: Hotel DoubleTree by HIlton, Rue Gineste 3, 1210 Brussels, Belgium, meeting room: Pagoda

On International Workers’ Memorial Day, we remember the countless workers who have lost their lives due to workplace accidents and occupational diseases. This day is not only about remembrance—it is about action. While significant progress has been made in reducing physical workplace hazards, psychosocial risks—such as work-related stress, burnout, harassment, and job insecurity—remain among the most prevalent and least regulated occupational hazards in Europe. These risks undermine both workers’ health and workplace productivity, and their prevention must become a priority.

This event will bring together experts, policymakers, and trade union representatives to shed light on the latest data on work-related psychosocial risks, their economic and social costs, and the pressing need for stronger regulatory action at the EU level. We will also launch several new ETUI publications, providing in-depth insights into the current landscape of psychosocial risks and the necessary steps to prevent and eliminate these hazards from European workplaces.

Following the publications launch, a high-level roundtable discussion will engage key stakeholders—from trade unions, policymakers, and researchers—to debate the next steps towards a robust EU directive on psychosocial risks. This discussion will be a critical opportunity to shape the future of occupational health and safety, ensuring that mental well-being is given the same priority as physical safety in the workplace.

Join us in driving the change! Let’s turn research into action and make work safer for everyone—because no one should suffer, fall ill, or lose their life because of their job.

Save the date and be part of this pivotal conversation!

Download HERE the draft programme.

To register please click HERE

UK: Stoneworker’s bereaved family calls for silica reform

The widow of Paul Gray, a Bradford stonemason who died of silicosis aged 57, is urging greater worker protections after lawyers secured a settlement over his exposure to deadly silica dust. Paul was never given protective gear during his 20-year career. Legal firm Irwin Mitchell has seen rising numbers added to its Silica Exposure Register and is calling for action ahead of Workers’ Memorial Day, warning silica risks may rival asbestos in future.

Hazards magazine silica webpages

Scotland: International Workers’ Memorial Day 2025 events listings

a man kneeling down next to the international workers memorial

International Workers’ Memorial Day 2025

 

International Workers’ Memorial Day (IWMD) is the day that the trade union movement unites to remember workers at home and across the globe who have paid the ultimate price, those who left for work and never returned.

 

International Workers’ Memorial Day is on Monday 28th April 2025.

Memorial events will take place across Scotland to commemorate those who lost their lives at work:

Friday 25th April:

Bathgate (11:00am): Workers Memorial, Bathgate Sports Centre, Torpichen Road
Coatbridge (12 noon): Summerlee Industrial Museum, Heritage Way, Coatbridge
Glasgow (12 noon): Workers Memorial, People’s Palace / Winter Gardens, Glasgow Green

Saturday 26th April:

Alexandria (1:00pm): Memorial Tree, Christie Park
Aberdeen (12:30pm): Workers’ Memorial, Persley Walled Garden, Bridge of Don, Aberdeen
Edinburgh (12:30pm): Memorial and Tree, West Princes Street Gardens
Falkirk (11:00am): Bandstand, Callendar Riggs, Falkirk
Kirkcaldy (11:00am): Memorial Tree, Beveridge Park
Paisley (12 noon): Workers Memorial, Renfrewshire House, Cotton Street
Renfrew (11:00am): Workers Memorial Cairn, Robertson Park, Paisley Road

Sunday 27th April:

Kilmarnock (11:00am): Memorial Tree, Dean Country Park

Monday 28th April:

Forfar (11:00am): Forfar Community Campus, Kirriemuir Road, Forfar
Dundee (12 noon): City Square, Dundee
Inverness (12:30pm): Workers Memorial, Friars Shott, Huntly Street
Bishopbriggs (1:00pm): Cadders Pit Memorial Cairn, Bishopbriggs Library & Community Hub

Visit the STUC website to keep up to date with events around the country

Europe: ETUI/ETUC invitation “From data to directive: confronting work-related psychosocial risks in the EU”

From data to directive: confronting work-related psychosocial risks in the EU – ETUI-ETUC conference

28 April 2025, DoubleTree by Hilton, (Rue Gineste 3, 1210 Brussels), room Pagoda

On International Workers’ Memorial Day, we remember the countless workers who have lost their lives due to workplace accidents and occupational diseases. This day is not only about remembrance—it is about action. While significant progress has been made in reducing physical workplace hazards, psychosocial risks—such as work-related stress, burnout, harassment, and job insecurity—remain among the most prevalent and least regulated occupational hazards in Europe. These risks undermine both workers’ health and workplace productivity, and their prevention must become a priority.

This event will bring together experts, policymakers, and trade union representatives to shed light on the latest data on work-related psychosocial risks, their economic and social costs, and the pressing need for stronger regulatory action at the EU level. We will also launch several new ETUI publications, providing in-depth insights into the current landscape of psychosocial risks and the necessary steps to prevent and eliminate these hazards from European workplaces.

Following the publications launch, a high-level roundtable discussion will engage key stakeholders—from trade unions, policymakers, and researchers—to debate the next steps towards a robust EU directive on psychosocial risks. This discussion will be a critical opportunity to shape the future of occupational health and safety, ensuring that mental well-being is given the same priority as physical safety in the workplace.

Join us in driving the change! Let’s turn research into action and make work safer for everyone—because no one should suffer, fall ill, or lose their life because of their job.

Save the date and be part of this pivotal conversation!

Download HERE the draft programme.

To register please click HERE

Remember the dead, fight like hell for the living