First official Workers’ Memorial Day

this year for the first time Workers’ Memorial Day (WMD) will take place with official government backing.

On 28 April workers, their trade unions and their families will come together to “Remember the Dead: Fight for the Living”. Wearing purple Forget Me Knot ribbons they will attend WMD events including demonstrations, services, vigils, the laying of wreaths, and the holding of a one-minute silence at noon.

The TUC explains: “Every year more people are killed at work than in wars. 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 commemorates those workers.”

Information on events taking place around the country is at at www.tuc.org.uk/h_and_s/tuc-11563-f0.cfm#sw and resources are at www.gmhazards.org.uk