WORKERS' MEMORIAL DAY

FACTSHEET & SAFETY REPS GUIDE

MAKE SURE MEMBERS KNOW

	Remind members now that Workers Memorial Day (WMD) is on Wednesday 28 April 2004.
	Make members aware of the twin aims:
	1. Remember the Dead Those killed at work are not publicly remembered on any other day, and 2. Fight for the Living Campaigning for better H&S so workers don't die or get killed by occupational illnesses.
	You can hold an event for either or both of these aims, even better, link them together through the2004 theme 'Safe and healthyworkfor all' and Employer accountability.
	Gather information and resources, customise existing material for your own members:
	• Key site - Hazardsmagazine web site has background on corporate crime, updates international links and ideas - www.hazards.org/wmd and www.hazards.org/deadlybusiness • Check the GMB website; • Check TUC web-site for details of events www.tuc.org.uk/h-and-s/ and on-line Book of Remembrance • Greater Manchester Hazards Centre sells purple forge-me-knot ribbons and Remember the Dead:Fight for the Living posters -www.gmhazards.org.uk for background to WMD; • Centre for Corporate Accountability web site: www.corporateaccountability.org has current information on Corporate Killing Bill, Directors duties, penalties & fines, and names of people killed by work • HSE for UK statistics www.hse.gov.uk • Global information and statistics from ILO site: www.ilo.org/public/english/standards.

ORGANISE AN EVENT ON WMD

To Remember the Dead:

	Plant a tree or garden, put up a plaque, dedicate a sculpture, piece of art or bench, place empty shoes or candles, to remember workers who have been killed at a workplace or in the local community, or in the whole of the country.
	Hold a one minute silence at work;
	Get people to wear purple 'forget-me-knot' ribbons and put up WMD posters;
	Ask the council to lower the flag on their buildings in respect;
	Ask religious centre (churches, mosques, temples, synagogues) to include WMD in their worship during the week.

To Fight for the living:

	Organise a meeting on H&S and the need for more employer accountability;
	Hold a safety reps inspection or carry out some risk assessments or risk, hazards or body mapping;
	Put pressure on the government to act by encouraging members to:
	write to their MPs and to ministers - Des Browne Minister for H&S at the Department of Work & Pensions, David BlunkettHome Secretary, demanding action on corporate killing and directors duties for H&S and for WMD to make an official day of action on H&S.
	Do something completely different - these ideas are only suggestions, catch the public imagination - direct action, a march, or rally see www.simonjones.org.uk and Hazards websites and look a TUC calendar of events for ideas.

WHATEVER YOU DO MAKE SURE YOU:

	Tell the local media - free papers, radio, TV what you are doing and why;
	Invite and involve the families of local victims but be very sensitive to their needs and what they want - some want to grieve in private so do not use the names of people unless their families have agreed, but many do want to be involved and are keen to talk to the press;
	Let the GMB know what you are doing so we can publicise it;

Involve as many people as possible - your own members, not just activists, local people, Cllrs, MPs, MEPs.

Each WMD GMB remembers all those killed by work. We also try to support the families of those recently killed at work to get some justice. So please let us know of anyone in your area.

You can download the fact sheet in PDF format here (63KB)

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