Tag Archives: Unions Tasmania

Australia: Unions Tasmania to host International Workers’ Memorial Day service, opens completed Workers’ Commemorative Park

Media Release and alert: Unions Tasmania hosts International Workers’ Memorial Day service, opens completed Workers’ Commemorative Park

 Unions, workers, families, community members, and political leaders will gather early tomorrow morning to mark International Workers’ Memorial Day, a day of remembrance observed across the globe on the 28th of April each year.

Unions lead services, vigils, and other observances to remember those workers killed or injured because of their work, and to renew our commitment to fight for healthy and safe workplaces.

 Monday’s service will take place at the Workers’ Commemorative Park (often referred to as the Workers’ Memorial Park) in Launceston. This years’ service will be particularly meaningful with the park having recently undergone significant works to complete it to its original design. After many years of campaigning for government funding, Unions Tasmania was proud to finally secure funding from the Federal and State Governments to allow this development to occur.

“IWMD is deeply important to unions because it is a day that reflects the very heart of what we stand for: protecting workers so they can make it home safely. The day is a solemn reminder that for every safety campaign we run, there is a worker who did not make it home,” said Unions Tasmania Secretary, Jessica Munday.

“This year, we are pleased to be holding the service in the Workers Commemorative Park which sees most elements of the original design complete. Alongside Guy and Karen Hudson, who conceived of this park after their son Matthew’s tragic death at work, we have worked together to see this park made into an important space for reflection, remembrance, and as a powerful reminder to the broader community to put safety at work first.”

Tragically, over the last five years Australia has recorded on average 191 workers killed each year on the job.

When it comes to progress, Ms Munday said, “We have come a long way in improving safety on the job, including winning industrial manslaughter in Tasmania last year. But we’ve not come far enough. In Tasmania, serious workplace injuries are rising – especially from psychological injury and body strain. Behind every statistic is a person, a family, a community affected. Today is an important day to not just remember workers, but to act for safer workplaces.”

Memorial service details

When:                   8:00AM Monday 28 April 2025

Where:                 Workers’ Commemorative Park, Elizabeth Gardens Invermay (near UTAS Stadium)

Speakers:            Jessica Munday, Secretary, Unions Tasmania

                                Guy Hudson, Workers’ Commemorative Park founder

                                Senator Helen Polley

                                The Honourable Felix Ellis MP

Australia: Opening of new Workers’ Memorial Park, Launceston – Unions Tasmania

Unions Tasmania invites community members to attend this year’s International Workers’ Memorial Day (IWMD) service in Launceston.
IWMD is observed annually on the 28th of April. It serves as a global day of remembrance and action for workers who have been killed or injured on the job, as well as an opportunity to renew our commitment to workplace health and safety.
May be an image of Stone Henge
This year is a particularly special IWMD as we will be unveiling the completion of the Workers’ Commemorative Park (also commonly referred to as the Workers’ Memorial Park) in Invermay
(outside UTAS Stadium).
The Park, which was first opened in 2011 but only partially complete, has been a long project of Unions Tasmania and Guy and Karen Hudson whose son Matthew was killed at work 20 years ago.
It has now been completed to its original design, made possible by Federal and State government funding and contributions from Unions Tasmania and affiliates.
It will live as a poignant reminder of the human impact of a death at work.
There will be a short service and provide a free BBQ breakfast. We encourage people to spend time wandering the park and contemplating its importance. We will also unveil details of how families who lost a loved one at work can have them recognised at the Park.
Please share this important event with your friends and family, and if you haven’t attended a service before, consider making this your first one.

Tasmania: Unions Tasmania to host International Workers’ Memorial Day service, calls on Premier to prioritise industrial manslaughter laws

Sunday 28 April 2024

Media Release and Alert: Unions Tasmania to host International Workers’ Memorial Day service, calls on Premier to prioritise industrial manslaughter laws

Unions Tasmania will host a second commemorative service for workers and community members in nipaluna/Hobart today as part of International Workers’ Memorial Day (IWMD). IWMD is marked globally by unions and workers each year to remember those who have been killed or seriously injured in their work, and to push for stronger safety laws to prevent future workplace deaths.

Following a moving service in Launceston this morning attended by families, community members, unionists, and politicians, Unions Tasmania will host a southern service along with unveiling a building banner calling on the Premier to introduce industrial manslaughter laws in Tasmania.

In the decade to 2022, Tasmania has seen 87 workplace related fatalities and around 7,500 workers compensation claims from injured workers each year. Clearly our safety laws are not adequately protecting workers from serious injury and death.

After years of advocacy by Unions Tasmania, the Tasmanian Government commenced a consultation process to consider the implementation of industrial manslaughter laws in Tasmania but is yet to make any commitment.

With parliament set to return in less than two weeks’ time, Unions Tasmania is calling on Premier Rockliff to make worker safety a priority and get these laws passed urgently.

“Unions Tasmania hosts these commemorative services on International Workers Memorial Day as an opportunity to mourn, reflect, share memories, and give dignity to those who have lost their lives because of their employment – and to renew our shared commitment as a community to workplace safety,” said Unions Tasmania Secretary, Jessica Munday.

“Over the recent election campaign, Unions Tasmania secured commitments from Labor, the Greens, and the independent members to introduce industrial manslaughter laws. With a majority of the House of Assembly now in support of these laws, it is time for the Rockliff Government to drop their opposition, stand up for workers, and make industrial manslaughter law in Tasmania.”

Event details

  • When: 12:00PM Monday 29 April 2024
  • Where:  Unions Tasmania, 212 Liverpool Street, Hobart
  • Speakers: Jessica Munday, Secretary, Unions Tasmania, Mark O’Donnell, Trustee and Union Delegate, United Firefighters Union Tasmania, Richard Humphrey, Dean of Hobart, St. David’s Cathedral

 

Tasmania: Remembering workers killed or injured by their employers

The 28th of April is #InternationalWorkersMemorialDay

Unions Tasmania will hold services in Launceston and Hobart to remember those killed or injured because of their work. We invite the community to join with us #politas #IWMD23

Unions Tasmania to host services to mark International Workers’ Memorial Day in Hobart and Launceston

Media Release: Unions Tasmania to host services to mark International Workers’ Memorial Day in Hobart and Launceston

 Unions Tasmania will host two services tomorrow to commemorate International Workers Memorial Day (IWMD), a day marked annually across the globe to remember those workers who were killed or injured on the job. We will be joined by workers, union members and families of injured or deceased workers to acknowledge this important day.

“We host these services every year to say to injured workers and families who have lost loved ones that we haven’t forgotten about your pain and that we are committed to the continuing fight for improved workplace safety,” said Unions Tasmania Secretary Jessica Munday.

“In Australia a worker is killed every two days. Last year, 7623 Tasmanian workers made a claim for workers compensation, and this is just the tip of the iceberg. We’re seeing emerging threats to health and safety such as increasing silicosis diagnoses and a huge increase in mental health injuries.”

“The Morrison Government has ignored the need for significant reform in workplace health and safety. They’ve refused to legislate for industrial manslaughter, ignored a wealth of evidence including that of the Boland Review into Work Health and Safety Laws and the Sex Discrimination Commissioner’s Respect@Work Report, that make a broad range of recommendations to improve our safety laws,” said Ms Munday. “So today is also day to demand more action from Government.”

Unions welcome Labor commitment to fund the completion of the Workers’ Memorial Park

Unions Tasmania also warmly welcomes the commitment from Ross Hart and the Labor Party to fund the completion of the Workers’ Memorial Park in Launceston.

“For years, we have called for the State and Federal Liberal Governments to fund this Park. It’s been an absolute kick in the guts to family members like Guy Hudson that those Governments have denied all requests for funding and taken no action to see the Park finished. We congratulate the Labor Party for recognising the importance of workplace safety and understanding how important it is to have a memorial for workers who left for work and did not return home,” said Ms Munday.

Launceston
When:             Thursday 28 April
Time:               8am
Location:        Workers Memorial Park, Elizabeth Gardens (near UTAS Stadium)
Speakers:        Jessica Munday, Guy Hudson, CFMEU Manufacturing Division National Secretary Michael O’Connord
https://www.unionstas.com.au/news-events/events/international-workers-memorial-day-launceston-service/

Hobart
When:             Thursday 28 April
Time:               12:30pm
Location:        Franklin Square, Hobart
Speakers:        Jessica Munday and a correctional officer
https://www.unionstas.com.au/news-events/events/international-workers-memorial-day-hobart-service/

For further information: Jessica Munday 0417 454 809

#iwmd22

Australia: Unions Tasmania will hold two 28 April events