TRADE union banners and flags were on display in Worcester to mark International Workers’ Memorial Day (IWMD).
Members of local trade unions held a one-minute silence in memory of those who have died at work or died from work-related injury or disease.
The event, which was organised by Worcester Trades Union Council (WTUC), was one of many events taking place across the country and around the world to mark IWMD which this year had the theme ‘health and safety is a fundamental workers right’.
Over the past year, the pandemic has exposed an occupational health crisis in workplaces worldwide. WTUC claim workers were denied basic health and safety protections and were victimised for raising their concerns.
In this country, lack of PPE provision and insufficient testing for front-line staff in the early stages of the pandemic, employees under pressure to enter workplaces with inadequate safety measures and increased mental ill-health among workers all provided a stark reminder safety at work is something which can never be taken for granted.
Neil Bevan from Hereford and Worcester Fire Brigades Union and chair of WTUC said “On International Workers’ Memorial Day firefighters join comrades across the trade union movement in remembering those who have lost their lives at work, and the devastating impact on the families they left behind.
“We mourn their loss but vow to ensure that lessons are learnt and we redouble our efforts to improve working conditions in their memory.”
