Wednesday 28 April is International Workers’ Memorial Day. This is the day when we get together to remember all those who have died through their work, and rededicate ourselves to the fight for the living.
But never has this annual day – and the act of remembrance – felt more important.
Thousands of workers across the UK will be continuing to care for those suffering from COVID-19 or delivering the vital public services that protect us and keep us and our communities going – as they have over the past year of pandemic.
Their health and safety is entwined with everyone’s health and safety. And in working as they have, they’re potentially putting their safety – and possibly even their lives – at risk. UNISON says ‘thank you’ to every single key worker for everything they are doing for our communities during this unprecedented period.
The past year has given a timely reminder that unionised workplaces are safer workplaces. On this International Workers’ Memorial Day UNISON is calling on everyone to hold a minute’s silence, at 11am, specifically to remember those who have died of COVID-19 while carrying out their work.
Other things you can do include:
- Tweet at us – @unisontweets – with your pictures of public service workers, whether of yourselves or colleagues continuing to do the jobs that are keeping us all safe;
- if you are having a problem getting PPE, let us know;
- email any other COVID-19 safety-related issues to healthandsafety@unison.co.uk
