The TUC are urging as many trade union branches and members to hit the streets on 28th April this year to commemorate those who have died at work, a day when we remember the dead and fight for the living.
Given that this government has introduced the worst and continueing attacks upon health and safety legislation and therefore by default upon the health, welfare and safety of all working people in the UK; the day has become more pertinent to the prevention of deaths at work as it is to commemorate those who have given their lives needlessly in the name of business profits which are still put before the rights any civilised society would grant without question.
This year's theme has been announced by the TUC as 'Protecting workers around the world through strong regulation, enforcement and union rights' - a testament to the world-wide movement that is the International Workers Memorial Day of 28th April every year.
It is imperative that the public are woken up to what these tory-led ConDem(ned) government are doing by stripping back all the legislation that was put in place by the Health & Safety At Work Act 1974 and also to recognise that a lot of the legislation we now have has been introduced as a result of the European Union, without which we would not have such laws as the DSE Regulations 1992, the Working Time Regulations 1998, and indeed the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992
The events being organised for this year's 28th April commemorations in the North West are listed below:
Blackburn Blackburn and District Trades Union Council event. Assemble 12.30 at WMD Tree at Northgate 2 mins silence and laying of wreaths.
Bolton
Sunday 27th April, 11.30am Rally on Bolton Town Hall Square followed by a minutes silence at 12.
Leafleting. Meet Victoria Square at 11.30am for leaflet and ribbon distributions. Organised by Bolton Unison
Chorley
Chorley Trades Council event on Friday 25th of April, service & speakers, meet at Park Gates, Astley Park, Chorley 17.45, bring flags and banners.
Liverpool
Joint Trade Unions event on at South Piazza of Georges Dock Building- corner of Mann Island and the Strand—pier Head, Liverpool L3 1DD , at 13:00.
Event at UCATT’s Memorial in Hunter Street, Liverpool at 12 noon
Manchester.
There will be a rally at 11.30 at Albert Square. Speakers: Trade Unionists, Teresa Griffin MEP candidate, Families Against Corporate Killers, GM Asbestos Victims Support Group, young workers. Minutes silence, laying of wreaths. Short play: Demented deregulatory daleks defeated by collective action! Shout out for safety: Then a walk to People’s History Museum for Meeting at 12.45 ‘Standing up for Health and Safety H&S in UK and EU’ Speakers include regional TUC secretary Lynn Collins and Teresa Griffin. There is also an Exhibition at the People’s History Museum on 17th April.
Preston
WMD Committee event Saturday 26th April gather at 11.45am in Flag Market, minutes silence at 12 noon, service and speakers, march to Lune Street monument where
workers were shot during the 1842 General Strike.
Gather for lunch at the Black Horse.
More information from the Lancashire trade unions website here
Salford
Agecroft Colliery Dedication of the Agecroft Colliery Memorial Garden at 12 noon on Saturday 26th April at the Agecroft Memorial Stone, Agecroft Road M27, Salford. North Ashton Prize Band, speakers, planting of a rose bush and blessing the garden. Followed by Agecroft Colliery reunion at the Swinton Royal British Legion.
Source: TUC / Unionsafety
