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Merseyside Remembers And Commemorates Those Killed At Work #IWMD20 - #NeverForget Trade unions and charitable organisations have organised an on line virtual ceremony at to be hosted on this website to mark International Workers Memorial Day (IWMD) for Tuesday 28 April.
The days events will be streamed on line throughout the day, and will include a 1 minutes silence at 11.00am, The Lord Mayors speech, Piper James Axon playing Flowers of the Forest with a candle burning brightly for all of those who have lost their lives at work and in particular those who have died in the present pandemic. A zoom meeting will be held at 7.00pm on the day and anyone wishing to join in should email Mr. Tom Bimpson at tbimpson@blueyonder.co.uk The event is commemorated across the world in many countries and recognised by the UK government as the official day of remembrance for those killed at work. Covid-19 has raised havoc on us all but no more so than our frontline workers, our NHS staff, key workers, health and social care workers, who place themselves at risk on a daily basis to save the lives of others. International Workers Memorial Day is about protecting our workers for those who died and given their lives because of the lack of safety equipment. Their legacy should shine like a beacon for future generations and positive change to show they did not die in vain.”
He added: “During the whole year worldwide, we see death occurring at work but it’s even more tragic now. The COVID-19 pandemic has also highlighted the fact that not only the health and safety of our NHS staff, social care and emergency workers is critical to fighting the pandemic but so too is the health and safety of ALL key workers; for example, in Delivery services, retail, transport, distribution and manufacturing sectors plus many more other industries. “Its an absolute tragedy that so many people both young and old are falling victim to the coronavirus with the prospect that the social devastation will continue for some time, but we will come out of it and I hope we will have change similar to that after World War 2 when our forebearers had the vision and fortitude to set up our NHS with some of its staff laying down their lives to treat and care for us. I would ask everyone, young and old, can you imagine what we would be going through now if it was not for our NHS?”
John Williams, UNISON issued this statement agreed by the organising committee of IWMD 2020. Piazza, Pier Head, Merseyside event. 'The significance of International Workers Memorial Day has probably never resonated so loudly, with so many workers from the NHS, Social Care, Transport and other key work areas having already given their lives serving and supporting their communities, in this country, and similarly all across the world. Our thoughts are with all families who have suffered such a loss. John Flanagan can be contacted on 0151 236 1895 The Hazards Campiagn website, http://www.hazardscampaign.org.uk/ provides major resources for this year's IWMD commemoration as well aspertinent articles and news relevant to the theme of every annual event and the issues which require us to #NeverForget
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The annual event held at the Pier Head had to be cancelled to comply with the Coronavirus epidemic. The on line ceremony will include a video of the Lord Mayor of Liverpool, Councillor Anna Rothery in which she pays a heartfelt tribute to all the NHS staff and other key workers who have lost their lives in the Coronavirus pandemic. 
Lord Mayor of Liverpool, Councillor Anna Rothery said:
Commenting on the need for social-isolation because of Covid-19 and the affecct it has had on the annual IWMD event in Liverpool, Jamie McGovern of the Communication Workers Union said:
John Flanagan of the Merseyside Asbestos Victims Support Group expressed the view of everyone on the virus now gripping the UK:
We have truly seen some outstanding bravery and resilience in the face of such adversity, and indeed the very best of human nature. 