GMB remember Workers Memorial Day 2016
29 April 2016

In 2015, the number of fatal injuries in the workplace was 142, these figures exclude 'Road traffic Accidents,' Workers travelling by air or sea,' Armed Forces' and also 'suicide' so realistically this figures is a lot higher.

GMB held its annual events on 28th April at the Regional Office in Columbus Quay Liverpool & Albert Square Manchester to mark International Memorial Day.

This year the theme for Workers Memorial Day is "Strong Laws - Strong Enforcement - Strong Unions" because across the world we are seeing growing attacks on health & safety protection.

Dougie Henry & Alf Jones took the remembrance at our Regional Office where wreaths were laid in memory of those killed and injured in their workplace.

There are a number of events are taking place across the region on Friday and Saturday (insert names and times)

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 reprensentatives.

Regional Secretary Paul McCarthy said:

“Over the last five years the government have driven down the budget for the Health and Safety Executive, labelling health and safety inspections unnecessary red tape and removing protection from millions of self-employed workers.  GMB North West and Irish Region is proud of the work done by our army of workplace safety representatives and will continue to support the annual events in the region to remember the dead and continue the fight for the living”.

 

 

SONNET FOR WORKERS’ MEMORIAL DAY.

We’re devious, in charge and filthy rich

 

from servants making graveyards of their health,

 

marks desperate for work and where we pitch

 

a pittance, trashing rights and stealing wealth.  

 

When health and safety rules can be ignored, 

 

like Hillsborough, we cover up with lies,

 

we cut red tape, use companies abroad 

 

and then it’s not our fault if someone dies.

 

A population bitten by abuse

 

is cannon fodder in financial war,

 

re-branding theft we con folk out of use,

 

thus bringing forward funerals for the poor.

 

     You’re slaving, starving, jobless, on the brink… 

 

     We’re asking for it really – don’t you think?

 

Shakespearean Sonnet by: Caroline Keen a.k.a. Minnie StaceySpring (April) 2015

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Caroline Keen reads her poem