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Health and safety is a fundamental right at work says Usdaw on International Workers’ Memorial Day

Date: 28 April 2022 Every year April 28 is International Workers’ Memorial Day (IWMD). It is the international trade union day of remembrance and action for workers killed, disabled, injured or made unwell by their work.
For #IWMD22 retail trade union Usdaw is promoting the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) theme of ‘Make health and safety a fundamental right for all workers'. To make that right a reality:
  • the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) must work with employers and unions.
  • employers must take responsibility for assessing and controlling workplace risks.
  • enforcement officers must inspect workplaces and work with local union safety reps when they do. 
Paddy Lillis – Usdaw General Secretary says: “International Workers' Memorial Day is when the labour movement remembers those who have been killed or injured at work and those who have died from occupational diseases. So on 28 April we ‘remember the dead and fight for the living’ by highlighting our all year round campaigning for better health and safety.
 
“This year’s theme reflects the ongoing campaign for the International Labour Organisation (ILO) to make safety and health a fundamental right at work. Three years have passed since the ILO Centenary Conference agreed that this would be done. In that time around 8.1 million people have died as a result of their work and even more now live with life-altering injuries and illnesses because their employer did not protect them
 
“The HSE brings unions and employers together, but funding cuts and recent Government policies have weakened its effectiveness. That is why Usdaw is calling for a reversal of the HSE cuts and to strengthen its work with unions and employers. We also want to see more HSE and local authority inspectors to enforce health and safety law and for the inspectors to work with union safety reps when they do workplace inspections.
 
“Usdaw reps across the country will be bringing Workers Memorial Day into their workplaces, publicising the importance of health and safety and in some areas participating in public ceremonies and events. I wish them well in their commemorations and campaigning.”
 
Notes for editors:
 
Usdaw (Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers) is the UK's fifth biggest trade union with around 360,000 members. Most Usdaw members work in the retail sector, but the union also has many members in transport, distribution, food manufacturing, chemical industry and other trades.
 
Make safe and healthy work a fundamental right this International Workers’ Memorial Day – 28 April #IWMD22 https://www.ituc-csi.org/International-Workers-Memorial-Day-2022
 
For Usdaw press releases visit: http://www.usdaw.org.uk/news and you can follow us on Twitter @UsdawUnion

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