Remember the dead, fight like hell for the living. #IWMD2020 @sallymcmanus pic.twitter.com/1S9HWIHs3A
— Australian Unions (@unionsaustralia) April 28, 2020
Sally McManus Secretary of the Australian Council of Trade Unions “Mourn the dead, fight like hell for the living”
ACTU Assistant Secretary, Liam O’Brien has sent the following message regarding International Workers’ Memorial Day:
Every worker has the right to safe, healthy and respectful work. In times like COVID-19, these rights are more important than ever.
Next Tuesday on International Workers’ Memorial Day, we remember those who weren’t afforded this right. We remember those who were tragically injured and lost their lives at work.
This year’s global theme for International Workers’ Memorial Day is Stop the pandemic: Safety and health at work can save lives. This is an important opportunity to highlight what must be done to ensure workers’ health is protected during COVID-19, including psychological health.
Here’s some ways that you can get involved:
Attend an online International Worker’s Day memorial event on Tuesday 28 April.Click here to find your local event or activity.
Share your story on social media and use the hashtag #IWMD2020 [and #IWMD20]. It could be memories of someone close to you or a shout out to an essential worker.
Stay connected, join your union and continue the fight for health and safety, whether at work or working from home.
Everyone has a right to be safe and healthy, have a good, secure job and return to their family and friends at the end of the day. Australian Unions will never give up this fight.
In solidarity,
Liam O’Brien, Assistant Secretary
International Workers’ Memorial Day takes place annually around the world on April 28 – it is an international day of remembrance and action for workers killed, disabled, injured or made unwell by their work.
Due to the current COVID-19 restrictions, Trades and Labour Councils (TLCs) around Australia will be holding their events online this year.
You can find details of the various TLC events here.
The ACTU has also prepared some shareables that all are welcome to use.
Australian Council of Trade Unions
Level 4/365 Queen Street, Melbourne, Victoria 3000
t (03) 9664-7340 f (03) 9600-0050
e jholden@actu.org.au w actu.org.au
w australianunions.org.au
Facebook /AustralianUnions
Twitter @UnionsAustralia
Instagram @AusUnions
The Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) has published the following list of International Workers’ Memorial Day events:
Unions NSW International Workers’ Memorial Day event
28 April 2019
Reflection Park Little Pier Street (off Harbour St), Darling Harbour, Sydney
12pm
VTHC International Workers’ Memorial Day event
29 April 2019
Victorian Trades Hall (Lygon St Entrance), Melbourne
10.30am – 11.15am
Including a minute’s silence at 11am and an opportunity to lay wreaths.
Unions NT International Workers’ Memorial Day event
29 April 2019
Rain Tree Park at Smith St Mall, Darwin
Time TBC.
Unions NT Secretary Joel Bowden will MC the event – there will be a eulogy, guest speaker and will finish with the workers’ prayer.
Unions WA International Workers’ Memorial Day event
29 April 2019
Solidarity Park, West Perth
10am – more details
QCU International Workers’ Memorial Day event
29 April 2019
Queen of Apostles Catholic Church, 70 Appleby Rd, Stafford
10.30am
Also see 27 and 28 April events listing for Tasmania.
https://www.actu.org.au/ohs/events
On International Workers’ Memorial Day ACTU says “Company Directors would be made personally liable for Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) fines resulting from workplace death, even if they restructure their business to avoid payment.” more
For this 28th April, all the regional structures of the Australian Congress of Trade Unions (ACTU) will be commemorating workers who lost their lives and health at work, and mobilise so these tragedies do not happen again. Events are already scheduled in Hobart and Launceston (Tasmania), Brisbane (Queensland), Melbourne (Victoria), Darling Harbour and Ourimbah (NSW), where memorial services will be hold.
An interesting initiative has been taken by the Victoria Trades Hall Council, who is calling on put out of the windows a pair of shoes, expressing solidarity for those workers that could not come home from work.
Details on events can be found in the calendar of events. For more information on ACTU preparations for this 28th April, please contact Jenny Holden jholden@actu.org.au