28/04/2016
International WORKERS' MEMORIAL DAY
International Workers' Memorial Day takes place on 28th April each year.
"Every year more people are killed at work than in wars" says the TUC "Most don't die of mystery ailments, or in tragic 'accidents'. They die because an employer decided their safety just wasn't that important a priority. Workers' Memorial Day (WMD) commemorates those workers."
Workers' Memorial Day is held on 28 April every year, all over the world workers and their representatives conduct events, demonstrations, vigils and a whole host of other activities to mark the day.
The day is also intended to serve as a rallying cry to “remember the dead, but fight for the living”.
In 2016 the theme for the day is "Strong Laws - Strong enforcement - Strong Unions" because across the world we are seeing growing attacks on health and safety protection, including in Britain where the Government have removed protection form millions of self-employed workers, and across Europe where the European Commission are pursuing a dangerous de-regulatory strategy. However strong laws are not enough if they are not going to be enforced. That is why we need proper inspections and enforcement action against those who break the laws. Here in the UK the number of inspections has fallen dramatically in the past five years, however in many other countries enforcement has always been non-existent. That is why we also need strong unions. Unionised workplaces are safer, yet the Government is trying to stop unions protecting the health and safety of their members by restricting the right of health and safety representatives to take time off to keep the workplace safer, and also trying to reduce our right to strike when things go wrong.
We are particularly thinking this year of those 4 workers that died during the collapse of Didcot Power Station in February.
An opportunity for Oxfam Unite Branch to raise Health & Safety in the Workplace as a priority and to introduce myself, Theresa Hummel, as Health & Safety Rep for Unite (Oxford) responsible for working with management to ensure the health & safety of ALL Oxfam staff.
Oxfam Unite have 3 Health & Safety Reps, myself (Oxford) plus Jane Hutton and Joanne Maylott for Trading and Shops.
As a branch of Unite in Oxfam GB, we are part of Unite's Community, Youth Workers and Not for Profit Sector, with over 60,000 members, alongside staff in Red Cross, Cancer Research UK, Amnesty International, Shelter, Mind, Scope and many other organisations.
Unite is Britain's biggest trade union with 1.42 million members. We are a democratic and campaigning union, standing up for equality for all.
If you are a member of Unite, thank you for your support. If not, we invite you to join.
