Trade union members across the country, including from UNISON Cymru/Wales, will this week be commemorating Workers’ Memorial Day and those who have lost their lives at work. The annual event held on 28 April sees workers, their families and representatives around the world marking the day with the rallying cry “remember the dead, but fight for the living”.
At 10.30am on Thursday 27 April, UNISON Pembrokeshire branch will unveil a disabled picnic bench and separate plaque overlooking the Parrog in Fishguard and Goodwick. UNISON regional secretary Margaret Thomas and local UNISON officers will be joined by mayor Mike Mayberry and town councillors to commemorate those who lost their lives working at sea along that coastline.
Up to 50,000 people die each year in the UK from work-related ill health and accidents. Many thousands more suffer injuries and work-related ill health. In a recent UNISON survey, 88 per cent of UNISON safety activists said that stress was within their top five concerns at work, with others also identifying overwork (66 per cent) and long hours 51 per cent. The trade union will be launching its Safer workplaces campaign next week, encouraging more public service workers to consider being a health and safety rep.
Margaret Thomas, UNISON Regional Secretary said,
“Everyone working today in hospitals, schools, offices, factories, shops, and other workplaces, has benefited from the fighting spirit of trades unions to improve the working environment and make life safer. Yet attacks on these basic workplace protections are on the increase. Society in general benefits from strong unions defending safe working practices.”