The Government announced that the United Kingdom would formally recognise International Workers Memorial Day beginning with this year’s commemoration on the 28 April.
This long awaited move came within hours of the deaths of two construction workers after suffering, what appears to be falls from height. In the first incident on the Forth Bridge a painter was killed after falling 150 feet on Wednesday, 27 April around 9pm. Hours later on the morning of the 28 January, another painter was killed on the Tay Rail Bridge following a fall of about 6 feet.
Trade unions, families of workers, hazards and asbestos groups have secured recognition after a long campaign and the Government has listed to our views and ensured that the day remains a commemoration organised workers for workers.
There will be no single focus for workers memorial day and the current practice of local TUC’s and campaign groups organising their own memorials will remain, and hopefully grow, following this announcement.
For further information on International Workers Memorial Day please see the TUC pages www.tuc.org.uk/h_and_s/index.cfm?mins=293 or Hazards Magazine www.hazards.org/wmd/ .
Ian Tasker
Assistant Secretary
No comments:
Post a Comment