Unite urges minute's silence for workers' memorial day on 28 April

21 April 2010

Unite, the largest union in the country, is urging its 1.6 million members to hold a minute's silence to mark International Workers’ Memorial Day (IWMD) on Wednesday, 28 April.

Unite is supporting the TUC's lead which is encouraging all workplaces to arrange a minute's silence at noon. This year's theme - Unions Make Work Safer - was set by the International TUC.

Unite joint general secretary, Derek Simpson said: 'In the UK alone, some estimates put deaths from work-related diseases at about 50,000 a year. And if you add to those over a thousand deaths from work-related driving and hundreds from accidents, the overall picture for our workers is horrendous.'

'Unite is determined those deaths will not go unnoticed and that Workers' Memorial Day is in the minds of every family in Britain. With our aim of a global union we will continue to campaign for this day to be recognised across the globe, as two million of our fellow workers’ are killed every year worldwide.'

'We do welcome the government's support, and with an election coming up we want workplace safety and health firmly on the politicians' agenda.'

'Unless a Labour government is returned, we face deregulation, fewer health & safety inspectors, greater self-auditing of health and safety compliance by employers, and employers stopping inspectors entering their premises.'

Unite joint general secretary, Tony Woodley said: 'We want to encourage Unite members to take part in Workers' Memorial Day activities in their area and for their employers to recognise the day - to remember the dead and fight for the living.'

'Unite members' many planned activities include organising services of remembrance and the laying of wreaths, holding a minute's silence, and participating in health and safety workshops, and conferences and rallies.'

'This is the first year where IWMD has official government recognition in the UK, something we have been campaigning for, and which we strongly welcome.'

'Published statistics underestimate the true picture. Health and safety would be taken far more seriously if the public were fully aware of the real scale of deaths and injuries. Safety and health standards are far higher within union organised workplaces than those that have no union influence.'

More details and the growing list of events can be found on the TUC website http://www.tuc.org.uk/h_and_s/tuc-11563-f0.cfm

Details of events organised by Unite members can be found on:
http://www.unitetheunion.com/news__events/events/workers_memorial_day.aspx

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