Social Justice & Action
What is International Workers’ Memorial Day?
Today marks International Workers’ Memorial Day, also called International Day of Mourning.
International Workers’ Memorial Day is a day to remember and honour workers who have lost their lives due to workplace accidents and diseases.
Established by Canadian trade unions in the 1980s ¹, events and commemorations are now held internationally to highlight the importance of workplace safety and health.
This year, unions are emphasising the vital role that organising plays in creating safer and healthier work environments.
The International Labour Organization (ILO) recently declared occupational health and safety the fifth fundamental principle and right of work. ²
This will form the basis of the international campaign for the fundamental right to a safe working environment and will be used to address the unacceptable death toll of three million people each year due to work-related causes, as well as the tens of millions more who suffer life-changing injuries and ill health.
Workplace organising allows employees to collectively refuse dangerous tasks as well as consultation rights regarding risk assessments, occupational health services, and the provision of personal protective equipment (PPE).
The International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) Deputy General Secretary Owen Tudor emphasised that every worker has the right to return home safely after a day’s work and that no one should die just to earn a living.
Trade unions and union members are responsible for many significant improvements to workplace safety, saving countless lives in various industries across the world.
Here are ten examples:
- Nurse-to-patient ratios: Ensuring that nurses and midwives are able provide adequate care to patients, reducing the risk of errors, accidents, and burnout.
- Safe working hours: Regulations that limit excessive working hours and promote sufficient rest breaks. Helping reduce fatigue-related errors, accidents, and stress, contributing to a safer work environment for healthcare professionals and better patient care.
- Violence prevention: Better violence prevention measures, including increased security, staff training, and improved reporting systems to protect workers from violence and aggression in the workplace.
- Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Better quality PPE and more of it, particularly during the pandemic. Proper training in PPE use, and appropriate infection control measures.
- Mental health support: Better mental health support services, including access to counselling, employee assistance programs, and policies that promote a healthy work-life balance.
- Safe patient handling: Implementing use of lifting equipment and proper manual handling training, reducing the risk of injuries.
- Silicosis: Stricter regulations on products containing silica and successfully pushed for a reduction in the exposure limit for workers. These measures could potentially decrease cases of deadly silicosis to one-sixth of the current rate.
- Asbestos: Implementing a comprehensive ban on asbestos, prohibiting its import, use, and sale, and unions continue to campaign for the safe removal and disposal of asbestos-containing materials from workplaces and public buildings.
- Workers’ compensation: Campaigned for improved benefits, coverage for mental health issues, and streamlined processes to ensure workers receive the support they need following a workplace accident or illness.
- Mine safety: Stronger safety regulations, better equipment, and worker representation in safety committees. This has contributed to a significant reduction in mining-related accidents and fatalities in Australia.
International Workers’ Memorial Day serves as an emotional reminder of the importance our work in protecting the lives and health of workers across the globe.
Union members have been instrumental in advocating for safer working conditions and improved health and safety standards in the Australian health industry.
Together, we will continue to work towards ensuring the physical, mental and emotional well-being of healthcare workers and the patients they care for.
¹April 28, 1970 is the anniversary of the Occupational Safety and Health Act coming into effect.
In 1984, the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) established a day of mourning.
In 1985, The Canadian Labour Congress declared an annual day of remembrance.
In 1991, the Canadian parliament passed an Act respecting a National Day of Mourning for persons killed or injured in the workplace, making April 28 an official Workers’ Mourning Day.
² 1. Freedom of association and the effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining;
2. The elimination of forced or compulsory labour;
3. The abolition of child labour; and
4. The elimination of discrimination in respect of employment and occupation.