UK Government Plays ‘Lip service’ To Workers Memorial Day

The Government’s response to a petition asking the UK government to give official recognition to 28 April, Workers’ Memorial Day, can be seen purely as lip service and placing recoginition and promotion of the issue firmly upon the trade union movement.

Families Against Corporate Killers (FACK) launched the petition with CWU support last year with one simple aim: 

"We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to Declare International Workers Memorial Day on 28th April a National day of mourning."

The full details of the Petition:

"1600 people die each year in UK while doing their job and 20000 die from work related diseases. The country should remember them on this day, as they do in other countries and by doing so reduce this slaughter."

Almost 1500 people signed the petition.

The Government response to those signing was one of dismissal, but did highlight their view of where their responsibility lay – purely upon law making:

“The Government supports the aims of International Workers' Memorial Day. It is important that we remember those who have needlessly died, been injured or made ill by work. As suggested, the opportunity to reflect can help strengthen our resolve to reduce risks and protect people from injury in the workplace.

International Workers' Memorial Day plays a part in raising awareness of workplace health and safety. However, it is important to focus on the successes of sensible health and safety management in protecting people at work. This should be something we do all year round.

The Government plays its part through the delivery of the Health and Safety Commission's "Strategy for workplace health and safety in Great Britain to 2010 and beyond." We want to ensure that health and safety becomes seen as a cornerstone of a civilised society.

Although there are no plans for the Government to declare International Workers' Memorial Day as a national day of mourning, we encourage the trade union movement to continue to raise public awareness of the day and so give it the recognition in the public consciousness that it deserves. Lord McKenzie, the Health and Safety Minister marked this year's International Workers' Memorial Day by attending a ceremony to mark the tragic death of two local people, killed when a crane collapsed in Battersea. The Health and Safety Executive have also supported the day, and this year marked it by planting a tree in memory of those who have lost their lives or been injured at work.

I hope that I have reassured you that the Government supports the aims of International Workers' Memorial Day and takes the issue of workplace health and safety seriously.”

There are many who hold the view that the governments response is quite cynical: making the law, whilst at the same time squeezing the recources of those responsible for the implementation of the law i.e. the HSE.

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