Statue of the Unknown Worker - Tower Hill
So it seems that Workers Memorial Day may be officially recognised.
Mr Ritchie, added; “Ideally the Government will decide to mark the day with a bank holiday. However the organisation of a minute’s silence and greater encouragement for services and events to mark the day within workplaces would also be an important step forward.”
Workers Memorial Day is a particularly poignant day for UCATT. Construction is the most dangerous industry in Britain. In 2007/8 72 construction workers were killed. No figures are yet available for this year.
We started the march from the statue of the unknown worker at Tower Hill, stopped for a two minutes silence at a construction site to remember two workers who had died within the past couple of weeks. We then continued to the HSE (Health and Safety Executive) at Rose Court, London, where we were joined by workers in the HSE, members of PCS and Prospect.
Construction workers at the site where two workers died
Then we marched to City Hall for the rally. Speakers from Unite, CWU, GMB, UCATT, Battersea Crane Disaster Action Group, and Fack (Families Against Corporate Killers).
Outside HSE
Some links:
“Nearly one fifth of deaths in the construction industry in 2007/2008 involved migrant workers”
Ucatt report: Deaths ‘disproportionately far higher’ at small firms
Bereaved families want justice and safer workplaces
Centre for Corporate Accountability
Corporate Manslaughter Act will not save a single construction worker’s life
From the excellent Hazards magazine:
£2 fine: Life can be especially cheap in the workplace
