International Workers’ Memorial Day (IWMD) is a day to remember people who have been killed, injured or made ill by work. It is a day when workers focus on health and safety at work, both in our workplaces and at events locally, nationally and worldwide.
To mark International Workers’ Memorial Day the Irish Congress of Trade Unions is organising a wreath laying ceremony on Tuesday 25 April at 12.30pm at the IWMD Commemorative Tree in the grounds of Parliament Buildings, just before the security hut as you come down from the main car park, Stormont Estate.
We are asking members to join us at this event. We are also asking branches to consider organising their own event in the workplace. Here are a range of initiatives you might consider:
- Discuss the purpose of IWMD with your members. Click here.
- Hold a minute’s silence at work – wear purple ribbons.
- Carry out a workplace inspection or carry out a ventilation audit. Click here.
- Organise a Health and Safety Committee meeting.
- Put up a display in a place where your members will see it like the canteen or corridor.
- Organise an event at lunch time.
- Organise an on-line campaign. Global union ITUC has published a package of ready-to-use Twitter and Facebook images and infographic resources for 28 April. International Workers Memorial Day #IWMD23 on ITUC Social Media | Trello
Thursday 28 April is an important day and an opportunity to remember and to consolidate everyone’s focus on the issue of workers’ health and safety. We are asking branches to please mark this date now in your calendar and make the commitment to contribute to this essential challenge by carrying out some of the activities above, or implementing initiatives of your own.
Please circulate this information as widely as possible and support the events.