Media Release and alert: Unions Tasmania hosts International Workers\u2019 Memorial Day service, opens completed Workers\u2019 Commemorative Park<\/b><\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/b>Unions, workers, families, community members, and political leaders will gather early tomorrow morning to mark International Workers\u2019 Memorial Day, a day of remembrance observed across the globe on the 28th<\/sup>\u00a0of April each year.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/b>Monday\u2019s service will take place at the Workers\u2019 Commemorative Park (often referred to as the Workers\u2019 Memorial Park) in Launceston. This years\u2019 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.<\/p>\n \u201cIWMD 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,\u201d said Unions Tasmania Secretary, Jessica Munday.<\/p>\n \u201cThis 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\u2019s 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.\u201d<\/p>\n Tragically, over the last five years Australia has recorded on average 191 workers killed each year on the job.<\/p>\n When it comes to progress, Ms Munday said, \u201cWe have come a long way in improving safety on the job, including winning industrial manslaughter in Tasmania last year. But we\u2019ve not come far enough. In Tasmania, serious workplace injuries are rising \u2013 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.\u201d<\/p>\n Memorial service details<\/b><\/p>\n When:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 8:00AM Monday 28 April 2025<\/p>\n Where:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Workers\u2019 Commemorative Park, Elizabeth Gardens Invermay (near UTAS Stadium)<\/p>\n Speakers:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Jessica Munday, Secretary, Unions Tasmania<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Guy Hudson, Workers\u2019 Commemorative Park founder<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Senator Helen Polley<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The Honourable Felix Ellis MP<\/p>\nShare this post<\/h3>