Unions in Bangladesh began their commemoration of the day on 24 April, the first anniversary of the Rana Plaza disaster. Workers at the factory observed cracks in the walls on 23 April 2013, and the building was evacuated. Despite this, they were ordered back into work the following day, and more than 1,100 of them died when the building then collapsed.
Unions in Brazil, Congo, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Senegal, Timor Leste, Togo and Zimbabwe highlighted the role that proper occupational health and safety, and strong unions, can play in keeping workers safe from such accidents.
Elsewhere, unions used the day to mark the role legislation can play in preventing accidents at work. Unions in Australia and Canada called on ministers to uphold and improve existing safety laws. Unions in the UK echoed this cry, highlighting the impact of government cuts on putting safety law into practice. Guatemalan unions held a rally, urging the government to reform and enforce its own health and safety laws.
Unions in the Philippines campaigned around HIV/AIDS in the workplace, fighting discrimination against those living with the illness.
ITF president Paddy Crumlin said: “Far too many workers are still dying in preventable accidents. On workers’ memorial day we come together not just to remember the dead, but to fight for the living – and ITF workers around the world are always ready to stand alongside other workers in danger.”
Get more details about what unions are planning for workers’ memorial day on the Hazards’ website
Unions mark workers’ memorial day
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ON THE GROUND
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Working together to defend the right to strike in Canada and worldwide
Canadian Affiliates of the ITF Canadian Coordinating Committee, representing tens of thousands of transport workers across Canada members of Unifor, Teamsters Canada, SIU Canada, NUPGE, ALPA, CATCA
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Sustained, joint action needed to end seafarer “human rights crisis”
Joint work to end worsening seafarer criminalisation and unfair treatment on the agenda at London event – organised by ITF, ILO, IMO and ICS The maritime industry must come together now to take action
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Six years of C190: 50 countries say no to violence and harassment at work
Today marks six years since the historic adoption of the International Labour Organization’s Convention 190 (C190) – the first international treaty recognising the right of everyone to a world of work