International Workers Memorial Day and why it's important

Today is International Workers Memorial today and events will be taking place across Scotland and the world to mark the date. The memorial has been in existence since 1970 and was set up following the approval of the Occupational Safety and Health act by the United States Congress. The memorial has been marked across the British Isles since 1992 and formally adopted by the STUC in Scotland in 1993……. 6 years before the UK TUC and The Health and Safety Executive adopted the memorial.

The memorial day is now widely marked internationally and remembers men and women who have been killed at work or by illness and disease caused by their occupation. This year Patrick McGuire from Thompsons will be speaking at the memorial service at Glasgow Green. Patrick’s speech will focus on how far we’ve come over the decades and why we now stand at the crossroads. Many of these hard won health and safety protections face being dismantled by a hard line, far right Tory Government, with one MP in Scotland,  determined to free themselves of the health and safety regulations enforced by the EU. As Tory donors in big business lick their lips at the prospect of rolling back workers’ rights its all the more important that we mark workers memorial day and stand up for what is right.

As Thompsons and our friends in the Trade Union movement continue to fight against this far right brexit UK government and their vandalism of health and safety law it’s also important to remember that for many workers across the world but particularly in South Asia and Africa, health and safety laws are a distant dream.

According to the International Labour Organisation each year more than 2 million men and women die in work place accidents. Asbestos kills 100,000 workers annually and hazardous substances as a whole kill almost half a million people.

Almost 6000 workers die every day from accidents at work. Most in the third world. That means more people die at their work than die in wars each year. This is why days like this are important. To remember what we have fought so hard to win and how easily big business and right wing politicians can take it away. But also to show solidarity with those across the globe who are still fighting for the rights we are still fortunate enough to enjoy.