WORKERS gathered at the Wales TUC headquarters in Cardiff yesterday, alongside First Minister Vaughan Gething, to lay wreaths on Workers’ Memorial Day.
The WTUC was honouring those killed at work a week before the day is officially marked on April 28 and trade unionists turned out for the sombre commemoration at a memorial stone outside Transport House. [Read more on the Morning Star website]
Wales TUC has issued an invitation to attend their National Workers’ Memorial Day event. There will refreshments followed by a short ceremony to lay wreaths at the National Workers’ Memorial Stone (pictured above). The meeting will be attended by dignitaries including trade union leaders.
Friday, 28 April 2023 10:00-11:00 AM BST
Unite House
1 Cathedral Road
Cardiff, Wales,
CF11 9SD
The Wales TUC invites you to join us at an early day memorial to commemorate those we have lost.
Speeches will be made by Mark Drakeford MS the First Minister of Wales and Shavanah Taj, Wales TUC General Secretary followed by a wreath laying ceremony and a minutes silence.
https://www.megaphone.org.uk/events/wales-tuc-workers-memorial-day-event-cardiff
Transport for Wales is marking International Workers’ Memorial Day (IWMD) in solidarity with its trade union partners.
Every year, the trade union movement unites to remember those who have lost their lives at work, or from work-related injury and illnesses. This year is particularly poignant due to the ongoing covid-19 pandemic, in which key workers including TfW colleagues continue to work on the front-line, risking their lives to keep the country moving.
At 11:00 on 28 April, TfW colleagues throughout Wales and the Borders will be taking part in a minute’s silence to remember those who have lost their lives, and to pay tribute to those undertaking vital front-line work on rail services and in other industries.
James Price, Transport for Wales CEO said:
“On International Workers’ Memorial Day, we are proud at TfW to stand with our trade union partners and remember those who have lost their lives.
“We are currently facing testing times and our front-line staff are continuously showing dedication and courage to help assist the country. I’d like to take this opportunity to thank them all and to also extend my thanks to other key workers across different industries.”
https://news.tfwrail.wales/news/tfw-marks-international-workers-memorial-day
Wales TUC President Shavanah Taj honours those who have suffered by calling on people to join a union to fight for a stronger voice at work and improve workplace health and safety.
Most workers don’t die of mystery ailments, or in tragic accidents. They die because an employer decided their safety wasn’t that important. Workers’ Memorial Day commemorates those workers and so if you’re not in a union, join a union. If you’re a member of a union, become active and become a union heath and safety rep. Unionised workplaces are safer workplaces and today on International Workers’ Memorial Day we remember the dead and fight for the living.
Watch Shavanah’s full message for Workers’ Memorial Day 2019:
This year Workers’ Memorial Day falls on a Sunday so you may like to organise an event in your workplace on the following Monday, 29 April. Your event could be a minute’s silence, a commemorative rally, a workplace meeting or just a small get-together. You could also arrange a larger commemorative event such as planting a memorial tree in a public place, putting up a plaque, dedicating a sculpture, a piece of art, or a bench, to remember workers who have been killed at the workplace or in the community.
Tell us how you’re marking Workers’ Memorial Day on Twitter (using #IWMD19) or Facebook.
The theme for Workers’ Memorial Day 2019 is: “dangerous substances – get them out of the workplace”.
Take a look at the TUC’s guides on Asbestos, Diesel exhaust and Occupational cancer
Wales TUC Workers’ Memorial Day message on YouTube
Date and time of event:
Thu 28 Apr 2016 – 11:00 to 12:30
Venue and town/city: Cardiff
Costs: Free
About this event:
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”.
In 2016 the theme for the day is “Strong Laws – Strong enforcement – Strong Unions” because across the world we are seeing growing attacks on health and safety protection, including in Britain where the Government have removed protection form millions of self-employed workers, and across Europe where the European Commission are pursuing a dangerous de-regulatory strategy. However strong laws are not enough if they are not going to be enforced. That is why we need proper inspections and enforcement action against those who break the laws. Here in the UK the number of inspections has fallen dramatically in the past five years, however in many other countries enforcement has always been non-existent. That is why we also need strong unions. Unionised workplaces are safer, yet the Government is trying to stop unions protecting the health and safety of their members by restricting the right of health and safety representatives to take time off to keep the workplace safer, and also trying to reduce our right to strike when things go wrong.
Information about the venue:
The event will be held at 1 Cathedral Rd, Cardiff at 11 am until 12.30. A small buffet will be provided.
Contact for further information:
Wales TUC marked International Workers’ Memorial Day 2015 with a meeting and wreath laying ceremony.
UK national trade union federation TUC has published a regularly updated listing of Workers’ Memorial Day events across Wales, England, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Over 20,000 people die in the UK every year because of their work. Most of these because of exposure to dangerous substances. This year the theme for the day is “removing exposure to hazardous substances in the workplace“ Hazardous substances are found in almost every workplace in the UK and many workers have no protection against the possible effects, despite the fact that tens of thousands of workers have their health destroyed by asthma, dermatitis, lung disorders and cancers because of exposures. They range from cleaning fluids in almost every workplace, silica dust in construction, tobacco smoke in prisons right through to blood and faeces in health and social care.
In addition to hazardous substances many unions and trades councils will be campaigning on the general theme of demanding better regulation, greater inspections and an end to the anti-health and safety rhetoric from the government and their allies in the press.
https://www.tuc.org.uk/WMD2015