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Apr 18 International Workers Memorial Day

Unite The UnionThe International Workers Memorial Day takes place around the world on the 28 of April each year. The slogan for the Day is -

!REGULATIONS DON’T KILL JOBS-LACK OF REGULATION KILL WORKER!

Unite the Union will be hosting a national event at the Gibraltar Parliament on Sunday, 28th April, at 11:30 am to mark the occasion and commemorate all those working class men and women who have died from work-related deaths, injuries and occupational related illness.

The purpose behind Workers' Memorial Day has always been to "remember the dead: fight for the living" and unions are asked to focus on both areas, by considering events or memorial to remember all those killed through work but at the same time ensuring that such tragedies are not repeated. That can best be done by building trade union organisation, and campaigning for stricter enforcement with higher penalties for breaches of health & safety laws.

Workers Memorial Day is commemorated throughout the world and is officially recognised by the Gibraltar Government.

Why is International Workers’ Memorial Day so important? Because across the world, more people die at work every year than are killed in wars!!! Most of this carnage is not due to ‘tragic accidents’ – workers die and are maimed because an employer decided that their safety just was not a priority.

This is our day to tell our stories: to explain that poor or non-existent health and safety means workers are injured, killed and made ill, but this isn't due to freak, unavoidable accidents or rare diseases but because employers didn't care enough to obey the law and governments didn't make them.

Over the past few years there have been a number of attempts in the UK to reduce the level of legal protection afforded to workers.

On this day Unite the Union observe Workers Memorial Day to remember those who have suffered and died on the job and to renew the fight for safer workplaces. This year we will come together to call for good jobs in our country that are safe and healthy. 

We will seek stronger safeguards to prevent injuries and save lives.

Drink-driving is no-longer seen as acceptable. Enforcing car seat belt legislation does not mean that we’re subject to a nanny state. Domestic violence is no-longer a private matter. But a death or injury at work is still seen as more acceptable than any other violent crime. The recognition of Workers Memorial Day as an official national day of remembrance would begin to challenge this culture of acceptance.

“No one should be put at unnecessary risk at work. Unite the Union believes that work-related deaths, ill health and ‘accidents’ are not acceptable. Employers have a responsibility to ensure that work doesn’t cause harm to their employees – it’s not only the right thing to do, it’s the law.

Unite the Union will commemorate and honor the dead, because those who have needlessly died, been injured, or made ill by their work; deserve not to be forgotten.

Unite the Union is calling on all of our health and safety reps and Areas Committees, Shop Stewards Section Committees, GGCA, GTC and NASUWT committees to attend the memorial ceremony on the day to mark the International Workers' Memorial Day.

The reception will take place at John Mackintosh Square at 2.00p.m