NASUWT: Ministers should pause for thought on workers memorial day
Ministers are being urged to pause for thought on Workers’ Memorial Day at midday today (Thursday 28 April) to reflect on the many thousands of people who have died or suffered serious physical injury or mental illness in the workplace.
The NASUWT, the largest teachers’ union, is also calling on teachers and pupils to take part in the silence. The day aims to remember the many thousands of teachers and other workers who have suffered serious physical and mental injury as a result of the neglect of basic health, safety and welfare issues.
Chris Keates, General Secretary of the NASUWT, said:”Will ministers be holding a minute’s silence for Workers’ Memorial Day? Certainly those at the Department for Education should be taking the time to think long and hard about the damage that the Coalition Government is about to do to health and safety laws.
“The Coalition Government should pause for thought today on the prospect of diluting existing health and safety at work laws which would put at risk the lives of many teachers, support staff and pupils in schools.”
ENDS
Press Office: 0207 420 9680/81
(Monday – Friday 8.30-17.30)
Out of hours: 07966 195010/ 07966 198894
Notes to editors
The NASUWT has issued posters to schools encouraging them to take part. The poster draws attention to the actions taken by the Coalition Government which puts workers at risk. These are:
diluting Health and Safety Regulations; attacking workers’ rights; scraping planning laws; cutting spending on building programmes; and avoiding tackling the problem of asbestos in schools and colleges.
Each year the international trade union community commemorates Workers’ Memorial Day on 28 April. This year the theme of Workers’ Memorial Day is ‘Securing Safer Workplaces’.
Stuart Gannon
NASUWT Press Office
Tel: 020 7420 9681
Mobile (and out of hours contact): 07966 198894
Address: 5 King Street, Covent Garden, London, WC2E 8SD
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