Category Archives: 2021 Europe

2021, 2021 Europe, 2021 UK, Events listing

UK: GMB to hold multiple events for 28 April

On 28 April GMB is  running a full day Health and Safety training session for GMB representatives.

In additional GMB is conducting a memorial service starting at 10.45 with a minute silence  11.55am on Zoom – open to anyone.

later in the day there will also be an evening event 6pm – 7pm  aimed at getting members, who are not already reps, interested in becoming health and safety.  This will also be open to anyone and happening on Facebook Live.

For further details contact the GMB via their Facebook page.

 

2021, 2021 Europe, 2021 Ireland, Events listing

Ireland: ICTU is encouraging all union members to add a ‘Twibbon’ on their To mark #IWMD @irishcongress is encouraging all union members to add a ‘Twibbon’ on your profile pic profile pic

To mark #IWMD @irishcongress (ICTU)  is encouraging all union members to add a ‘Twibbon‘ on their profile pic

2021, 2021 Europe, Events listing

Europe: EFFAT remembers all the agri-workers suffering ‘the hardest working conditions’

#IWMD21: 1 yr into the pandemic, we remember all agri-workers living in shacks & enduring the hardest working conditions. Yet, they’re still putting food on our table. Today we renew #EFFAT call for #SocialConditionality in the new #CAP. Health & Safety at Work is your right!

2021, 2021 Europe, 2021 UK, Events listing

UK: FACK urges those bereaved by work-incidents to add their names and stories to the TUC memorial wall

Families Against Corporate Killers urge everyone who has lost a loved one in work-related incident to add their name and story to the TUC #IWMD21 Wall of Remembrance tuc.org.uk/workers-memori And wear Purple Forget-Me-Knot ribbon in remembrance and to fight for end to work deaths

2021, 2021 Europe, 2021 UK, Events listing

UK: ‘Incredibly moving’ to see the names and photos being added to the TUC’s Workers Memorial Wall

“Incredibly moving seeing the names and photos being added to this memorial page” says Shelly Asquith of TUC. more

2021, 2021 Europe, 2021 Italy, Events listing

Italy: Giornata mondiale per la salute e sicurezza sul lavoro

View further details here

2021, 2021 Asia-Pacific, 2021 Europe, 2021 Turkey, Events listing

Turkey: Workers Memorial Day – Kesk

Health and safety is your right.

28 April – Workers Memorial Day

2021, 2021 Europe, 2021 Scotland, Events listing

Scotland: 28 April activities organised by Scottish Hazards and Edinburgh TUC

News Release from Edinburgh Trade Union Council and Scottish Hazards (23 April 2021)

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Edinburgh Trade Union Council and Scottish Hazards are organising activities to mark this year’s International Workers Memorial Day.

We are calling on people to observe a minutes silence at 11am  at your workplace whether at home or elsewhere.

Wreaths and flowers will be laid at the Memorial Tree and Plaque in West Princes Street Gardens. Fifteen Edinburgh trade union organisations will lay wreaths including NUJ, UNISON, FBU,UCU, UNITE and EIS branches between 12 and 2pm.

Floral tributes will also be laid by the Protest in Harmony  choir, Migrant Pride and Scottish Hazards. We are pleased that the Lord Provost of the City of Edinburgh Council will lay a wreath at 12.30pm.

Individuals can lay tributes in honour of loved ones who passed away during the COVID pandemic.

To mark the day the City of Edinburgh Council will lower its flags to half mast. Historic Environment Scotland will light up Edinburgh Castle in purple between dusk and midnight.

Lord Provost Frank Ross said: 

“It will be my honour to lay a wreath on behalf of the people of Edinburgh and the Council to remember colleagues, friends, and relatives who have died, been injured or made ill by their work.

 “Each year we remember the sacrifices of workers across the world and this year has special significance because of the ongoing pandemic. Key workers continue to work on the frontlines caring for those suffering from coronavirus or delivering vital public services putting their own lives at risk. It is vital that we all take a moment to think about those who are no longer with us and honour their memory.

 “The Council has a long-standing commitment to marking International Workers’ Memorial Day, we recognise the importance of safe and healthy working conditions and we are fully committed to working towards this for our own employees and for all workers in the city.”

 Kathy Jenkins, Secretary of Scottish Hazards said: “Workers Memorial Day is a day for all of us to remember those who have died through work and to pledge again our commitment to fight for improved health and safety for all workers.  This is a truly international day which will be commemorated in well over 100 countries, many marking this day despite oppression and war.  Countries, from Argentina and Albania  through Iraq and indonesia, Myanmar, Palestine and  the Phillipines to Venezuela and Zimbabwe.

The international theme for this year is “ Health and Safety is a fundamental human right” and our related Scottish  theme “Fighting for the right to health and safety for all Scottish workers, today and everyday”

For workers and communities in Scotland and around the world, this year’s  workers’ memorial day  is especially  poignant, as we remember all of those who have died from Covid-19 and, in particular the many thousands who contracted the virus through work – often in the service of others.”

For further information contact Des Loughney, Secretary of Edinburgh Trade Union Council at this email address or 07734012536.

 

 

2021, 2021 Europe, Events listing

Europe: 28 avril – Journée de commémoration des travailleurs: LA SANTÉ ET LA SÉCURITÉ, C’EST VOTRE DROIT!

À une période où une personne sur trois travaille depuis son domicile et que celles qui sont sur leur lieu de travail prennent des précautions particulières, le COVID-19 montre l’importance vitale de la santé et de la sécurité au travail.

Parmi les 530 000 décès dus au COVID-19 dans l’Union européenne* figurent des milliers de travailleurs qui l’ont contracté au travail. Nous pleurons leur perte et présentons nos condoléances et notre solidarité à leurs proches. Nous nous souvenons également de ceux qui sont morts l’année dernière d’un cancer ou d’une autre maladie ou d’un accident du travail : plus de 100 000 rien qu’en Europe.

Si la vaccination est porteuse d’espoir, la santé et la sécurité doivent rester une priorité absolue dans les mois à venir et au-delà. La santé et la sécurité ne sont pas des cadeaux des autorités ou d’un bon employeur : la santé et la sécurité au travail sont VOTRE droit. Un droit pour lequel les syndicats se battent !

Dans l’Union européenne, « tout travailleur a droit à des conditions de travail qui respectent sa santé, sa sécurité et sa dignité »**. Le droit communautaire***

  • oblige les employeurs à fournir des lieux de travail sains et sûrs,
  • exige que tous les travailleurs soient protégés par la loi sur la santé et la sécurité, et
  • donne aux travailleurs le droit d’être informés et consultés en matière de santé et de sécurité, et de désigner des représentants de sécurité.

Cela signifie que les employeurs sont responsables des risques évidents tels que l’exposition à des substances dangereuses, le port de charges lourdes ou les mouvements répétitifs, ainsi que d’autres risques moins largement reconnus tels que le stress lié au travail, le harcèlement et les brimades.

Malgré des droits clairs, la santé et la sécurité sont loin d’être une réalité pour tous les travailleurs. Un travailleur sur trois en Bulgarie, en Slovaquie et en Espagne et près de la moitié en République tchèque et en Grèce qui doivent porter des équipements de protection individuelle (EPI) au travail ne les reçoivent que parfois ou pas du tout. Pendant la crise du COVID, de nombreux travailleurs essentiels, parmi lesquels les femmes sont surreprésentées dans les secteurs des soins et du nettoyage, n’ont pas reçu d’EPI adéquat. Il en va de même pour les travailleurs précaires, dont la protection sociale limitée ne leur laisse pas d’autre choix que de continuer à travailler, même s’ils présentent des symptômes du coronavirus.

De nombreux travailleurs n’ont pas été en mesure de prendre de la distanciation sociale. Le travail à domicile comporte des risques, comme l’augmentation de la violence domestique (en hausse d’un tiers dans certains pays de l’UE pendant le confinement), l’impossibilité de se déconnecter pendant de longues heures et le manque d’équipements appropriés à la maison. La croissance des travailleurs sur les plateformes numériques laisse un nombre croissant de travailleurs sans équipement de protection adéquat — seuls 35 % des travailleurs de plateformes disent que leur plateforme a pris des mesures pour les aider lors de la pandémie.

Les syndicats et les délégués à la sécurité jouent un rôle essentiel pour garantir la santé et la sécurité. Tout travailleur qui se préoccupe de sa propre santé et de sa sécurité au travail devrait adhérer à un syndicat et se renseigner sur l’existence d’un délégué à la sécurité. Un syndicat peut contribuer à faire en sorte qu’un représentant pour la sécurité soit nommé et écouté par la direction.

Les syndicats se battent pour une meilleure santé et sécurité sur le lieu de travail et dans la loi. Les syndicats ont obtenu de l’UE des limites d’exposition professionnelle pour de nombreuses substances cancérigènes et se battent pour obtenir des limites plus strictes et cela pour davantage de substances. Les syndicats cherchent à renforcer les obligations légales des employeurs en matière de lutte contre le stress et les maux de dos (et autres troubles musculo-squelettiques). Les syndicats font également pression pour que l’Organisation internationale du travail (OIT) mette en œuvre la décision prise lors de sa conférence du centenaire en 2019 de faire de la sécurité et de la santé au travail un droit fondamental au travail.

La santé et la sécurité ne sont pas réservées à la Journée de commémoration des travailleurs ou même à la pandémie — c’est votre droit et c’est pour la vie — littéralement !

*À la date du 25 février 2021

**Charte des droits fondamentaux de l’Union européenne, art. 31

***Directive-cadre sur la santé et la sécurité au travail, 1989

2021, 2021 Europe, Events listing

Europe: 28 April – Workers Memorial Day: HEALTH AND SAFETY IS YOUR RIGHT!

 

With 1 in 3 people working from home, and those at the workplace taking special precautions, COVID-19 shows the life and death importance of health and safety at work.

Among the 530,000 deaths from COVID-19 in the European Union* are uncounted thousands of workers who got it at work. We mourn their loss and offer condolences and solidarity to loved ones. We also remember those who died in the last year from work-related cancer and other illness and accidents at work: over 100,000 in Europe alone.

While vaccination offers hope, health and safety must remain an absolute priority in the coming months and beyond. Health and safety are not gifts from the authorities or a good employer: health and safety at work is YOUR right. A right that unions fight for!

In the European Union ‘Every worker has the right to working conditions which respect his or her health, safety and dignity’**. EU law***

  • obliges employers to provide healthy and safe workplaces,
  • requires all workers to be protected by health and safety law, and
  • gives workers the right to information and consultation on health and safety, and to designate safety representatives.

It means employers are responsible for obvious risks such as exposure to dangerous substances, heavy lifting or repetitive movements, as well as other less widely acknowledged risks such as work-related stress, harassment and bullying.

Despite clear rights, health and safety is far from a reality for all workers. One in three workers in Bulgarian, Slovakia and Spain and almost half in Czechia and Greece who must wear personal protective equipment (PPE) at work are only provided it sometimes or not at all. During the COVID crisis many essential workers, among which women are overrepresented in the care and cleaning sectors, have not had adequate PPE. The same applies to precarious workers, whose limited social protection gives them no choice but to continue working, even if they have coronavirus symptoms.

Many workers have not been able to socially distance. Homeworking carries its own risks like increased domestic violence (up by a third in some EU countries during lockdown), longer hours unable to disconnect, and a lack of appropriate equipment at home. The growth of workers in digital platforms leaves increasing numbers of workers without proper protective equipment – only 35% of platform workers say their platform had taken measures to assist them in the pandemic.

Trade unions and safety representatives play a vital role in ensuring health and safety. Any working person who cares about their own health and safety at work should join a union and find out if they have a safety representative. A trade union can help to ensure that a safety representative is appointed and listened to by management.

Trade unions fight for better health and safety in the workplace and in law. Unions have obtained from the EU occupational exposure limits for many cancer-causing substances and are fighting to get tougher limits and for more substances. Unions are seeking stronger legal obligations on employers to tackle stress and back pain (and other so-called musculo-skeletal disorders). Unions are also pushing for the International Labour Organisation (ILO) to implement its centennial conference decision in 2019 to make occupational safety and health a fundamental right at work.

Health and safety are not just for Workers Memorial Day or even the pandemic – it’s your right and for life – literally!

*As of 25 February 2021

**Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, art. 31

***Occupational Health and Safety Framework Directive,1989