Croatia: Occupational Health and Safety – an investment, not a cost!

Trade Union of Construction Industry of Croatia (Sindikat graditeljstva Hrvatske) will join a panel discussion  „Occupational Health and Safety – an investment, not a cost! ahead of the National Day of Protection at Work. The panel  is organised by the Union of Autonomous Trade Unions of Croatia.

UK: FACK Statement International Workers’ Memorial Day 28 April 2017

Campaign and support group Families Against Corporate Killers has released a statement ahead of International Workers’ Memorial Day calling on the UK government to recognise work related suicide:

“If we’re to effectively fight for the living, we must recognise work-related suicide – just as they do in Japan, Australia and France – and work to eliminate the causes.  We must resist the move to resilience as a means of tackling stress, and instead focus on removing or fixing the hazards, rather than fixating on fixing the worker.”

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Australia: 28 April ideas, resources and activities from We Are Union OHS

Ideas, resources and activities for 28 April from We Are Union OHS, Australia. If you are using social media to publicise your activities, please use the hashtag #iwmd17

INTERNATIONAL WORKERS’ MEMORIAL DAY

International Workers’ Memorial Day is April 28 every year.

It’s the day that we remember and mourn for the dead, and fight for the living. We must continue our fight to ensure that workers health and safety at work are protected. It’s an opportunity to organise in your workplace and each death is a tragedy. Each death is preventable.

ORDER YOUR FREE WORKERS’ MEMORIAL DAY POSTERS TODAY!

Download our 2017 IWMD Posters in a PDF here!  

 

IWMD_Poster_example.jpg

THREE WAYS YOU CAN SHOW SOLIDARITY TO REMEMBER THE DEAD AND FIGHT FOR THE LIVING.

1. STARTING THE CONVERSATION ON SOCIAL MEDIA:

Putting your boots and/or tools out – be it a chisel, pen or stethoscope – and sharing the message via social media with the hashtag #BootsOut and #IWMD

fitz_tweeting_about_iwmd.jpg

2. IF YOU’RE AT WORK THAT DAY:

Get your workmates together to hold a small event with a minute’s silence and discussion of health & safety.

 

HOW TO RUN A WORKERS’ MEMORIAL DAY EVENT:

1. TALK TO YOUR BOSS

Talk to your employer about running an event at your workplace (there is a formal request letter in this kit if you think that is necessary).

Staff meetings about health and safety are good for business – everyone wants a healthy and safe workplace. Employers are also required to allow such meetings under the OHS Act.

2. DECIDE WHERE, WHEN & WHAT

Choose Location and time. Consider a space that will accommodate the expected amount of people, and whether you’ll need chairs, or audio equipment etc.

At 11am, workers all over the world observe a moment of silence for International Workers Memorial Day, but choose a time that will work best for the majority of your colleagues. Write down the event location and time on your posters!

3. BUILD SUPPORT IN YOUR WORKPLACE

Now speak to your colleagues – either at a staff meeting, or just in your tea room. They may not be aware that Australians are still regularly killed and injured at work.  If someone in your workplace has a personal safety story (a “near miss”, or an injury they sustained) ask them to share it at the tools down day meeting.

Once you’ve spoken to people, put up posters around your workplace as a reminder.

4. HOLD YOUR EVENT!

You can either follow the event running order included in this kit, or decide on your own. But make sure you include 1 minute’s silence for people who have been killed at work, and a discussion of how to make your workplace safer!

Make sure you take a photo and upload it to social media with #BootsOut- to show your international solidarity, and help raise awareness!

3. IF YOU’RE NOT AT WORK THAT MORNING:

Attend an International Workers’ Memorial Day Service.

MELBOURNE METRO

Victorian Trades Hall at 10.30am-11.15am outside ‘the rock’ on the corner of Lygon & Victoria Streets, Carlton.

RSVP here.

BALLARAT

Ballarat Trades Hall,  24 Camp Street, Ballarat

The Ballarat Trade Hall will be holding a morning tea at 10.30am.

For more information and to RSVP, contact the BTLC on 03 5332 3666 or by email: balltlc@outlook.com.au

GIPPSLAND

When: 11am, Friday 28th April 2017

Where: Centenary Rose Garden, Commercial Road, Morwell and we start at 11.00am.

The day includes:

  • Speakers of interest
  • Singer/musician
  • Bagpiper
  • Ecumenical Service with segment for the laying of wreaths in remembrance of those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice for their work
  • Free community BBQ at the conclusion of the event

For further information and full details please contact GARDS.

WODONGA

Memorial Service and BBQ

Friday 28th April from 5 PM

Sumsion Gardens (off Church St) Wodonga

RSVP & spread the word on Facebook.

 

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India: NOBSM India trains electrical workers around 28th of April

Update from BWI

NOBSM India will be proposing health and safety training for electrical workers followed by press conference.

http://www.bwint.org/default.asp?Index=7784&Language=EN

India: KKNTC India holds seminar and rally around IWMD

Update from BWI

KKNTC India reports a joint OHS seminar for workers in collaboration with employers as well as a workers’ health and safety rally and a press conference.

http://www.bwint.org/default.asp?Index=7783&Language=EN

Malaysia: MTUC, CIEU and UECI in Malaysia on IWMD

BWI will initiate a pre meeting with MTUC-UECI Union of Employees of Construction Industry and CIEU Cement Industry Employees Union.

There will be a follow up SEA-BAN conference on migrant workers’ exposed to asbestos in the demolition of construction project/pipeline dismantle work

In addition, UECI-DOSH planning to improve safety measures on construction sites and introducing BWI survey findings to CIEU.

http://www.bwint.org/default.asp?Index=7776&Language=EN

India: ONMS India focuses on joint OHS training for IWMD

Update from BWI

ONMS India organizes joint OHS training for construction workers from selected worksites in collaboration with state construction welfare board.

Brazil: International solidarity with the General Strike April 28th

The Building and Wood Workers’ International (BWI) has followed with big concern the legislative initiatives promoted by the Brazilian Government in labor relations and social security.

Particular concern is the urgent approval by the majority of the parliamentarian government in the Chamber of a legislative proposal that regulates the subcontracting of labor and services (called “outsourcing”), totally unrestricted and without guarantee of rights for workers employed in the called activies-end of the company.

Likewise, the measures introduced by the government in the “social security reform” lead to an unlimited precariousness of social security, with economic, social and human losses for the current and future generation of working men and women.

As if it were not enough with these contemptible measures of social protection and labor, the government of Mr. Michel Temer attacks frontally to trade unions by proposing a labor “reform” that will result in the weakening of the unions and Collective Bargaining in Brazil, which will result in a reduction of salaries, benefits and rights at medium and long term.

The Brazilian State is acting against all commitments made at the United Nations system on reducing poverty and improving living and working conditions for its citizens. The current government, apparently driven by interests of the “market”, acts against its people and, in particular, against the working class.

This is the reason why, BWI calls on all its affiliates in Latin America and the Caribbean to issue solidarity actions with the NATIONAL GENERAL STRIKE that the Brazilian unions plan to carry out on April 28th – International Workers’ Memorial Day – in defense of their working and living conditions and against the outsourcing of unrestricted and precarious work.

On April 28th, BWI trade unions will be sending letters of protest to Brazilian Embassies in several countries, along with unions affiliated to the Public Services International (PSI) and IndustriALL Global Union, other Global Union Federations mobilized in support of Brazilian workers.

According to BWI General Secretary, Ambet Yuson, “trade unions have a central role to play in the world of work. Workers are often confronted with governments and employers who facilitate, collaborate and even enforce human rights violations. It would be more appropriate for the government to seek ways to resume the thousands of unfinished projects across the country, whose very high investments are already deteriorating. Meanwhile, nearly 13 million people lost their jobs and public revenues, of course, collapse, which reduces the State’s fiscal capacity and leads to a loss of public safety, health and education”.

“This is why”, – Yuson continues – “BWI Brazilian affiliates approved at the begining of this year the Campaign Employment Now – We want to work, asking for the resumption of unfinished projects of the Program Minha Casa, Minha Vida”. Workers were concient of been under attack since then.

But, Brazilian workers are not alone: worldwide, the large family of BWI will be supporting in solidarity on this coming April 28th.

Support to the general strike on April 28th, 2017!
International solidarity now!
Against precariousness!
Against the reduction of pension rights!
Against the weakening of trade unions and collective bargaining!
BWI is fight and solidarity.

Nepal: 28 April graphics from GEFONT

Nepalese union GEFONT has produced some very eye catching materials for International Workers’ Memorial Day 2017.

Further details: GEFONT 

Myanmar: BWFM will hold a press release on IWMD #iwmd17

Update from BWI

BWFM will have a press release including photos on demolition of old public housing containing asbestos. There will also be coverage of social protection for informal construction workers and fatalities case at AAA Cement.

http://www.bwint.org/default.asp?Index=7775&Language=EN 

Remember the dead, fight like hell for the living