Global: Theme for International Workers’ Memorial Day/Day of Mourning, 28 April 2025

Dear colleagues,

In 2025, ITUC is proposing continuing the 28 April theme of Occupational health and safety: A fundamental right at work. This year, there will be an explicit additional focus on the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) and digitisation on occupational health and safety.

Although Artificial Intelligence (AI) could be used to mitigate monotonous work, AI at work is increasing work intensification, monitoring and surveillance, generating negative impacts on mental and physical wellbeing, as workers experience the extreme pressure of constant, real-time micromanagement and automated assessment. In the coming months, ITUC will provide related resources and social media assets. Meanwhile, to give you some overall ideas, we are attaching a short article produced by our expert Rory O’Neill.

The International Labour Organisation (ILO) will also be highlighting workplace health and safety risks associated with AI (see ILO announcement in English; Spanish, French). https://www.ilo.org/meetings-and-events/growth-artificial-intelligence-and-digitalisation-leap-right-direction

Many organisations will, of course, have their own priority subjects. The critical issue is that unions mobilise to ensure 28 April remains the biggest and most effective OHS activity anywhere.

Please ensure you inform ITUC of your planned activities and any related resources and send details of your events as they occur. We will post resources and updates on our dedicated 28 April webpage, www.28april.org. You can send details of your activities to rory.oneill@ituc-csi.org

Best wishes,
Luc Triangle
General Secretary

Global: Tema del Día Internacional de la Memoria de los Trabajadores/Día de Duelo, 28 de abril de 2025

Estimados/estimadas colegas,

En 2025, la CSI propone continuar con el tema del 28 de abril: “Salud y seguridad en el trabajo: Un derecho fundamental en el trabajo”.

Este año, habrá un enfoque adicional explícito sobre el impacto de la inteligencia artificial (IA) y la digitalización en la salud y la seguridad en el trabajo.

Aunque la inteligencia artificial puede utilizarse para mitigar el trabajo monótono, en el contexto laboral, la IA está aumentando la intensificación del trabajo, la supervisión y la vigilancia, generando impactos negativos en el bienestar mental y físico sobre los trabajadores al sentir la presión extrema de la microgestión constante en tiempo real y la evaluación automatizada.

En los próximos meses, la CSI proporcionará recursos relacionados y materiales para las redes sociales. Mientras tanto, adjuntamos un breve artículo elaborado por nuestro experto Rory O’Neill, el cual podrá darles unas ideas generales iniciales.

La Organización Internacional del Trabajo (OIT) también destacará los riesgos para la salud y la seguridad en el lugar de trabajo asociados a la IA (véase el anuncio de la OIT en varios idiomas (inglés, español, francés): Crecimiento de la Inteligencia Artificial y la Digitalización: ¿un salto en la dirección correcta para la seguridad y la salud en el trabajo? | International Labour Organization)

Por supuesto, muchas organizaciones tendrán sus propios temas prioritarios. La cuestión fundamental es que los sindicatos se movilicen para garantizar que el 28 de abril siga siendo la mayor y más eficaz actividad en materia de salud y seguridad en el trabajo.

Por favor, asegúrense de informar a la CSI de las actividades que tengan previstas y de cualquier recurso relacionado, y envíen detalles de sus eventos a medida que se produzcan. Publicaremos recursos y actualizaciones en nuestra página web dedicada al 28 de abril, www.28april.org.
Pueden enviar detalles de sus actividades a rory.oneill@ituc-csi.org.

Nuestros mejores deseos,

Luc Triangle
General Secretary

Tunisia: FGBB will mark 28 April with conference and workshop

Construction federation BWI affiliate FGBB will be holding a workshop and conference to mark 28 April.

The event will address the IWMD BWI themes including Stop Deadly Dust. Other worker safety concerns are expected to be raised.

BWI 28 April announcement

 

New Zealand: 28 April resources – NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi

New Zealand Council of Trade Unions Te Kauae Kaimahi has published a host of  Workers’ Memorial Day resources on their on 28 April webpage.

In additional to listing events NZCTU has called for any additional events to be submitted.

Resources include 

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

Unions make work safe poster

NZCTU Health and Safety starter pack 2025

 

 

More details here

 

Wales: National Workers’ Memorial Day event, Cardiff – TUC Cymru

Mon, 28 Apr 2025 – 10:00 to 12:00 Register to attend here

Wales’ National Workers’ Memorial Day event, Cardiff
You are invited to attend Wales’ National Workers’ Memorial Day event.

Every year, we share the message of workers’ memorial day, to remember the dead and fight for the living. The trade union movement in Wales, with our sisters and brothers across the world, remain as committed as ever to this principle.

Join us for a breakfast roll and a hot drink.  There will then be a short ceremony to lay wreaths at the National Workers’ Memorial Stone. We will be joined by dignitaries including trade union leaders.  This year, International Workers’ Memorial Day will focus on the impacts of AI on occupational safety and health.

Please dress in smart dark clothes.

For further details on this event, please contact; cwilliams@tuc.org.uk

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/

Remember the dead, fight like hell for the living