Workers Memorial Day 2010 - Remember the Dead, Fight for the Living.

EMPTY SHOES

No more footsteps on the path as you come home
I just sit here with my grief - so all alone
No key is turned by you in our front door
No sound of walking to me across our floor
I've cried so much my eyes are red and sore
Empty shoes, no more you - just empty shoes.

When the kids cry out "I want my Dad"
We cuddle up for comfort when we're sad
And we whisper that we miss you
Want to hear your voice, be with you
We want and need to kiss you
Left with memories - and empty shoes.

The boss sent you alone, to mend the roof
No harness, no mate - you fell with a "whoosh."

No safety there to guard your health
Your life forfeit to bring others wealth
Now I'm without your dearest self
My empty arms - your empty shoes.

Your broken body lay in the dirt
Your lifeblood drained amidst your hurt
To honour your great sacrifice
I hope your workmates unionise
And do it soon before another dies
In remembrance of you - no more empty shoes.

Poem by Wendy Lawrence

This poem by health and safety campaigner Wendy Lawrence, was penned after she'd read about yet another avoidable death caused by work. It reflects upon the tragic and needless waste of someone's life and the effect on those they leave behind.

UNISON Media Release

Click here for UNISON's media release for Workers Memorial Day.

UNISON Events across the UK

Click here for details of some of the many UNISON events taking place across the UK - including a minutes silence on the building site of UNISON's new national office.

UNISON's 2010 CAMPAIGN

At 12 midday on Wednesday 28 April, UNISON staff and members across the UK will take part in a minutes’ silence. During that minute we will remember those members and workers injured, made ill, or killed by their work. This year is the first year during which the UK Government will formally recognise International Workers Memorial Day (IWMD) as a national day of remembrance, thereby joining many other countries across the world.

What do you have planned for IWMD? Have you or your branch organised an event, or are you taking part in a joint event? If not, there’s still time to plan something.

Whether you have something else planned, or nothing so far, join us in a minutes’ silence at 12 midday - let’s make this IWMD even more “remembered” than the last. Speak to your employer about asking all staff to take part in a minutes’ silence whilst at work.

Background to UNISON’s Campaign

UNISON has supported and promoted IWMD for many years. Following a resolution by the National Delegate Conference, this developed into our popular campaign for the official commemoration of the Day. UNISON spoke to MPs, wrote to the government, and sought the support of the TUC and other unions to join the campaign.

UNISON branches, safety activists, and stewards were key to showing the strength of demand for this cause. Each year they organised bigger, better, and more events to mark the Day. Or they joined and organised local and regional events, or developed health and safety initiatives with their employers. Demand was so high that in 2009 we had to print three times as many IWMD posters and twice as many flyers. For more on some of these past events, see the links below.

And whatever you plan to do, let us know! See our contact details - in the box, towards the top right.

NOT JUST FACTS AND FIGURES, BUT REAL PEOPLE

Juliet Young, a nurse who needlessly died following infection from HIV. Her employer did not have the disposable devices which would have prevented the injury that led to her infection.

Social care worker, Philip Ellison, 48, stabbed to death during a home visit. He leaves behind a wife and three children.

The family of Terence Dugdale was awarded £240,000 following the death of the father of six from mesothelioma. This was caused by his exposure to asbestos at work many years earlier.

Anthony Briars, 36, father-of-two was compensated after being blinded and badly burnt following electrocution by faulty work equipment. He now suffers from post traumatic stress disorder. Mr Amankwa, a health worker awarded £11,000 after seriously injuring his wrist on a badly maintained window. He was off work for four months. With his nerves affected, he now faces physiotherapy and more surgery.

Jacqueline Crowe, 46, a nurse who damaged her back trying to move a faulty bed was awarded £45,000. She was forced to leave her job after the accident. She now suffers depression and has to take strong painkillers daily.

For other case histories, see part 11 of the special investigation by Hazards magazine; A Deadly Business.

ITUC THEME FOR IWMD 2010

The slogan for the Day, is as usual, Remember the Dead, Fight for the Living. This year’s theme is Unions make work safer. This fact comes as no surprise, as the latest TUC report, The Union Advantage, confirms.

Background to IWMD

Each year on 28 April, IWMD is marked around the world to Remember the dead, Fight for the living. We remember those killed, made ill, or injured by their own or someone else’s work. Their pain and suffering and that of their families deserves not to be forgotten. We also renew our commitment to, and demand once more, safe and healthy work for all.

Far too many workers and their families suffer each and every year. The figures from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and which make the headlines, never tell the full story.

So what is the full story? It is estimated that work incidents cause up to 1,600 deaths each year; including deaths to members of the public, work-related suicide, and road traffic accidents whilst driving for work. On top of this, it is estimated that there are up to 50,000 deaths from work-related illnesses; including cancers, respiratory illnesses, and heart disease. For more detail, see The Whole Story, in the Safety and Health Practitioner.

WHAT IS UNISON CALLING FOR?

Society no-longer finds drink-driving or domestic violence acceptable. It’s time for work-related ill-health, injury, and death to also become unacceptable rather than a tragic but accepted part of the world of work. Remember that the HSE has previously stated that about 70% of workplace "accidents" are due to the poor management of health and safety.

Achieving official recognition does not mean that the job is done. IWMD and official recognition are a means to an end – this being to raise awareness of the importance of health and safety and to campaign for safer and healthier work.

Similarly, remembering those who have died, been injured, or made ill is an important part of the Day.

However, equally important is to fight for the living by ensuring that the Day is used to campaign, organise, and recruit on health and safety at branch level. Unions make work safer, and make it most safe when there is a large, active, and involved membership.

How to take part?

What do you have planned for the 2010 IWMD? Are you joining UNISON’s minutes’ silence? Let us know. See our contact details - in the box, towards the top right.

If your UNISON branch wants to plan something, a local event could include:

• Presentations and speeches from local MPs.
• Displaying UNISON's IWMD or other posters.
• Wearing, ordering, and distributing the IWMD purple ribbons and car stickers to members (see below for how to order).
• Making sure you have plenty of UNISON’s recruitment materials to put on your stall, have at your event, or to distribute to non-members. UNISON has a selection of general recruitment materials; plus some specific to health and safety including: a member recruitment leaflet, and a safety rep recruitment leaflet and poster. To download or order these, go to UNISON’s Online Catalogue.
• Writing a letter to the local press about any of the campaign issues or local events.
• Organising a safety reps inspection or carrying out a body mapping exercise. For more information on these, see “More Info” below.
• Remembering any workers who have been killed at the workplace or in the community by arranging an event such as planting a memorial tree in a public place, putting up a plaque, or dedicating a sculpture.
• Asking religious centres to mark IWMD.
• Negotiating with your employer to hold one minutes’ silence at 12 noon.
• Requesting for official flags on public buildings to be flown at half-mast. Many employers agree to this each year as a mark of respect and remembrance, but a few have been reluctant because IWMD was not officially recognised – well now it is!

MORE INFO AND RESOURCES

Campaigning, Recruiting, and Communicating For advice on running a campaign, recruiting, and communicating with members and potential members, click here. See alsopage two, issue 60 of Health & Safety Organiser.

UNISON Events

Some of the many events that have been organised by UNISON or that will see UNISON attend for 2010.

Here are just a few examples of the many UNISON events from the past: 2009, 2008, 2007 and 2006.

UNISON IWMD Materials

UNISON’s 2010 IWMD Poster

UNISON 2010 flyer for distribution prior to or at an IWMD event.

UNISON Bulletin on IWMD for more information, suggestions; and how to order the poster, flyer, ribbons, and stickers.

UNISON newsletter covering IWMD.

Choose UNISON for a cleaner, safer workplace poster. Order paper copies from healthandsafety@unison.co.uk.> For guidance on Body and Risk Mapping see page two of Health and Safety Organiser, Issue 51 and page three ofIssue 57.

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