Italian construction unions have prepared a poster on accidents, asbestos and occupational diseases for action on 28 April.
Basque country: Que la mutua no oculte
A 28 April poster from CCOO Euskadi.
In the Basque country unions mobilise for sick workers’ protection
On 28 April the Basque country union ELA will call on its members to mobilise against the reform of the “mutuas” system, which is leading to lesser worker protection in times of sickness and increased influence of companies on determining workers’ benefits.
For more information on activities in the Basque country, please contact Leire Txakartegi
In Belgium unions will focus on strenuous working conditions
On 28th April, the Fédération Générale du Travail de Belgique (FGTB) – Charleroi and the Centre de Défense et d’Action pour la Santé des Travailleurs (C-DAST) will organise an seminar in the Bois du Cazier. The seminar title is ‘We should not let them demolish our health! The event location is symbolic: a restored coal mine in which 262 miners died in 1956 following a technical accident. The union will also organise an action in front of the employers’ organisation headquarters.
For more information on FGTB Charleroi activities for this 28th April, please contact Philippe Vigneron, philippe.vigneron@accg.be
Argentina: Sin presiones
La CTA anunció en lanzamiento de una iniciativa original para este 28 de Abril, que incluye un concurso de expresión escrita, invitando a los trabajadores a compartir sus experiencias sobre la salud en el trabajo. El concurso “Sin presiones” esta siendo coordinado por la Secretaria de salud y medio ambiente de la CTA de Córdoba, la CTA Capital y el CISPREN.
Para mas información sobre el concurso de la CTA, visitar www.islyma.org.ar
Los sindicatos luchan por lugares de trabajo saludables y sin riesgo químico en Argentina
Para este 28 de Abril la CGT va a destacar el impacto de los agentes químicos y biológicos para los trabajadores y trabajadoras argentinos, que suman más de 10 mil de los 660000 accidentes denunciados en los centros de trabajo. La CGT organizara asambleas en centros de trabajo haciendo énfasis en la prevención de accidentes en el manejo de sustancias química, reuniones en las regiones, distribuciones de volantes en centros de trabajo y en las redes sociales. También se sumara a la “XII Semana de la seguridad argentina”, los días 6, 7 y 8 de mayo.
Para mas información sobre las actividades de la CGT, contactarse con Mauro Posada MPosada@uocra.org
Argentina: No pressures
The CTA, has launched an original approach to this 28 April, inviting workers to write their experiences with health at work. A writing contest “No pressures” has been launched, jointly coordinated by the CTA Cordoba Health and Safety Union, the CTA Capital and the CISPREN. More information on the contest can be found here: www.islyma.org.ar
Argentina: Unions fight for healthy workplaces without chemical risks
On 28 April CGT will highlight the impact of chemical and biological hazards for Argentinean workers, which account for at least 10.000 of the 660.000 notified occupational accidents in the country.
The CGT will be organising assemblies in workplaces, emphasising the need for prevention measures in the handling of hazardous substances, meetings at the regional level, and distribution of information leaflets in worksites and through social media. CGT will also join activities related to the Argentinean OHS week, in early May.
For more information on CGT activities for 28 April please contact Mauro Posada MPosada@uocra.org
Tragedy reinforces ITF’s resolve to tackle hazardous substances across the transport sector
The global transport unions’ federation ITF is backing the ITUC theme for 28 April, removing exposure to hazardous substances in the workplace. It will be integrating this into ongoing campaigns on container safety for dockers, truckers, seafarers, railway workers, warehouse workers – essentially along the entire supply chain. Toxic gases and fumigation in containers is one of the areas of campaigning as are container weights, packing, loading etc.
ITF is asking its affiliated unions to get involved on 28 April by, among other things, raising awareness about the issue of toxic gas and fumigation in containers with their members. It says “this is an increasingly important topic for us given the tragedy in the port of Antwerp.” Three experienced dockworkers died on Saturday 11 April in Antwerp, Belgium, after entering a ship’s hold to unload coal. ITF president and chair of its dockers’ section, Paddy Crumlin, said: “Dock work is dangerous work and everyone involved must always do everything possible to minimise the risks. This is a timely reminder of the importance of Workers’ Memorial Day on 28 April (28april.org), whose message is ‘Remember the dead, fight like hell for the living’.”
Twitter: @itfglobalunion
Europe: Unions say STOP treating protection from hazardous chemicals as “red tape”
For this 28th April, the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) will run a highly visible action, focusing on the 100,000 people who die every year in the EU as a result of occupational cancers, as well as the 150,000 people who have died waiting for the EU to approve the Directive on Carcinogens and Mutagens at Work, held up since October 2013 by an EU review of ‘red tape’.
To mark the International Workers’ Memorial Day, the ETUC is planning to meet with Commissioners and MEPs at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, and will participate in events in Belgium and Latvia.
ETUC General Secretary Bernadette Ségol will meet European Parliament President Martin Schulz and European Employment Commissioner Thyssen in the European Parliament in Strasbourg .
The artwork below will be used at these events.
