Ahead of International Workers Memorial Day (Thursday 28th April) the Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC) has called for communities throughout Scotland to remember the hundred of Scottish workers who have died in the past year as a result of industrial injury or disease.
Grahame Smith, STUC General Secretary said
“The STUC has supported International Workers Memorial Day since 1993 and we today repeat our call that it is a basic human right that a worker and their families should be safe in the knowledge that they will return unharmed after a day at work.
“However, we face a huge challenge as budgetary cuts imposed on the HSE by the Coalition Government will mean less proactive enforcement will, we believe lead to more accidents, greater risk of exposure to dangerous substances such as asbestos and more incidences of occupational ill health.
“We also have to fight any plans to attack our health and safety regulation. It is appalling to say that employers find health and safety legislation too burdensome, our legislation if properly implemented and properly enforced saves lives.
“Trade unions should be proud of the role that we have played since the Health and Safety at Work Act was introduced in 1974, but we will have to fight to protect what we have achieved built we will have to fight harder to challenge the attitude of the UK Government whose former advisor, Lord Young once described health and safety as a music hall joke.
“Losing a loved one is no joke the Government should remember this when they are attacking the effectiveness of the HSE, placing more workers at risk of injury and ill health related to work but also denying Scottish and UK workers their basic human right, to be protected from harm
Ends
For further information contact;
Ian Tasker
Office 0141 337 8100
Notes to editors
Details of events attached
International Workers Memorial Day Events Thursday 28th April
Greenock 11.00 Clyde Square
Hamilton 11.45 Townhouse, Beckford Street – Minutes silence at 12.00
Glasgow 12 noon George Square
Coatbridge 12.00- 13.00 Summerlee Industrial Museum
Edinburgh 12.00 West Princes Street Gardens
Bathgate 10.00-12.00 Seminar Bathgate Sports Centre 12.30-13.00 Ceremony Workers Memorial
Alloa Clackmannanshire Council Buildings 11.30am
Dundee 12 noon Adjacent to Discovery Quay
Midlothian 12.30pm King George V Park Bonnyrigg
Paisley TBC Renfrewshire House, Cotton Street