International Workers’ Memorial Day:  28 April

Mourn the dead but fight for the living demonstrates the focus of trade union activities on or about 28 April each year.  28 April is a recognised day in a number of countries and the number of trade unions taking up the cry grows each year.  Many activities are organised on the day, others on days close to it such as May Day.  In Thailand observance is sometimes linked to the National safety Week conducted around 10 May each year.  10 May is the anniversary of the horrific Kader Toy Doll factory fire in which 188 workers died and 494 were injured.

Why 28 April?  International Workers’ Memorial Day was developed in Canada in 1984 to mark the 70th anniversary of the passage of the first comprehensive Workers’ Compensation Act in the province of Ontario in 1914.  The AFL-CIO has also, from the mid 1990s, recognised 28 April as the anniversary of the creation of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) in 1970.

OHSEI invites all trade unionists to consider appropriate activities on or near to 28 April, and to let us know what are your plans.

AFL-CIO:  http://www.aflcio.org/yourjobeconomy/safety/memorial/.

TUC UK:  http://www.tuc.org.uk/h_and_s/index.cfm?mins=293&minors=293.

CLC Canada:  http://action.web.ca/home/clchealt/en_readingroom.shtml?sh_itm=2675d50470be4198cc0c316896209480&AA_EX_Session=37ec03a32e7f12fe0d21c2350bcb0de0.

ICFTU:  http://www.icftu.org/displaydocument.asp?Index=991217455&Language=EN.

CTU New Zealand:  http://www.union.org.nz/campaigns/health_safety/files/WMD_03.pdf.

ACTU:  http://www.actu.asn.au/public/ohs/inforesources/1063697879_28742.html.

Hazards Magazine:  http://www.hazards.org/wmd/international.htm.

ILO:  http://www.ilo.org/public/english/protection/safework/worldday/index.htm.

A Hazard magazine poster (Go to www.hazards.org/wmd).

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