International Workers Memorial Day:Liliana Alexia of Battersea Crane Disaster Action Group whose son was killed outside her home
International Workers Memorial Day, April 28, started in Canada in 1984 and is marked in many countries around the world as a day when workers "come together to remember the dead and fight for the living." Talks are taking place with the UK government over official recognition of the day, with UCATT calling for it to become a bank holiday. Around 5000 people die in the UK each year directly from work-related causes, with asbestos still the major killer. The construction industry is one of the most dangerous, with over 2800 deaths in the last 25 years, including 72 in 2007/8. Falls, being hit by moving objects and electrocution are the most common causes. Accident rates are increased by the use of sub-contractors, and are higher among smaller firms. Even in the few cases that result in successful prosecution, the sentences imposed are often trivial fines. The commemoration in London, organised by UCATT and the Construction Safety Campaign was supported by other groups including the Communication Workers Union, Unite, FACK (Families Against Corporate Killers) and the Battersea Crane Disaster Action Group. The event started with a short rally and laying of wreaths at the UCATT statue to the Unknown Construction Worker at Tower Hill. The march then stopped briefly at Riverbank House, a Sir Robert McAlpine construction site, where 30 year old Richard Chaddock from Newark, Notts, employed by a sub-contractor, died on 19 March. After a short speech, hard hats were removed for a minute's silence. The march was met by trade unionists from the HSE on their tea-break outside there office on Southwark Bridge Road. Speakers there pointed out that the number of HSE inspectors has dropped by around 20% since 2004, and that the number of prosecutions has dropped by around 40% in the same period, despite accident rates remaining high. Around a hundred marchers arrived at City Hall where they were met by a socialist band and others who had come for the rally.
Size: 3347px × 5040px
Location: Tower Hill, London, England, UK
Photo credit: © Peter Marshall / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: &, accidents, action, alexia, asbestos, battersea, campaign, construction, crane, danger, day, death, disaster, fack, group, health, hse, international, labour, liliana, memorial, photograph, placard, safety, son, trade, trades, tuc, ucatt, unions, unite, work, work-related, workers
