GSG 12-21 Workers’ Memorial Day
26/April/2021
Description
The Irish Congress of Trade Unions has taken the lead for many years in marking International Workers’ Memorial Day (IWMD) which takes place every year on the 28th April. This is an important date nationally and worldwide for anyone with an interest in the safety, health and welfare of people at work when we remember people killed or injured at work.
The CWU has always supported this International Day of Remembrance and we have a plaque in our Garden dedicated to the memory of those killed, injured or made ill as a result of their work which was unveiled on Workers’ Memorial Day 2014.
In addition to marking Workers Memorial Day on Wednesday we should also recommit to safer workplaces. Through congress we are adapting the European Trade Union Federation slogan for IWMD: – “Workplace Health & Safety – it’s your right”.
In 2020, 53 people were killed in workplace accidents in Ireland while many more suffered life-changing injuries. As Workers’ Memorial Day 2021 arrives and with COVID 19 restrictions continuing the need for strong and robust health and safety policies has never been greater.
The trade union movement has provided strong leadership in the last year in doing everything possible to protect workers throughout this pandemic. Health and safety has never been more important for us. Workers’ Memorial Day represents an opportunity to remember those we have lost, and to celebrate the contribution of those who continue to work to make us all safer.
With the ongoing COVID 19 restrictions, the ICTU Health and Safety Committee has organised a number of online elements to occur on the lead-up to the day, and for an online broadcast at noon on April 28th. This broadcast, via the Congress website and social media, will include a wreath-laying at the Garden of Remembrance, an emotional poem about loss recited by front-line healthcare workers, and a message from Dr Mike Ryan of WHO.
A key part of these actions is to have a coordinated social media campaign which commenced on Sunday, 25th April.
Facebook Frames and Twibbons (overlays that can be used on social media profile pictures) were made available to all affiliates and they are available on our Facebook and Twitter accounts.
In addition to the above, the Union will be involved in a social media campaign highlighting the above and also sending our own Health and Safety messages. We will be sharing and sending messages via our Social Media platforms.
We are asking all members who use social media to adopt these overlays in the lead up to the 28th April and also on the day itself. It is very simple to activate these, and we are hoping to build some momentum so that there are a significant number of social media accounts using the images by April 28th.
We are also asking members to view the event on the Congress website and to hold a minute’s silence in their workplace (including those working remotely) to remember those who have died or became ill.
Please bring the above to the attention of all members and encourage them to get involved in the campaign.