NEWS RELEASE
Saturday 22nd April 2006 For immediate release
STUC WELCOMES LOCAL AUTHORITIES SUPPORT FOR INTERNATIONAL WORKERS MEMORIAL DAY
The STUC has announced a number of events that will take place to mark this years International Workers Memorial Day, next Friday 28 April 2006.
Speaking ahead of the day Ian Tasker, STUC Health and Safety officer said,
"We have been encouraged in the way that local authorities have engaged with the STUC and local TUCs with views to formally recognising the day in towns and communities throughout Scotland".
"In the last year 33 Scottish workers lost their lives through work related tragedies and many others have died as a result of work related ill-health and disease".
"Annually, throughout the world the working environment causes more deaths than warfare but yet the Westminster Government and the Scottish Parliament, with the exception of a few individual MPs and MSPs, fail to properly recognise the sacrifice made by ordinary working people trying to make a living".
"Over the next twelve months the STUC will turn it's attention to campaigning, once again, for formal recognition of the day by the Scottish Executive and Parliament".
"Those local authorities who already have memorials in place have to be congratulated as do the others who are currently in discussion with the STUC and our affiliated local TUCs with a view to recognising the day".