Workers Stop And Remember The Dead

Union members from Kaitaia to Bluff will stop over the next two days to remember those who have lost their lives at work.

Some will erect memorials, others will march through city streets and in Wellington the trains will stop for one minute at noon on Monday while rail workers pay their respects to workmates who lost their lives at work last year.

New Zealand events to mark International Workers’ Memorial Day on April 28 begin tomorrow with the planting of a memorial grove at Corban Reserve in Waitakere City.

“The ILO estimates that each year over two million are killed by work - far more than those killed by war, famine or AIDS,” said Council of Trade Unions president Ross Wilson today.

“Here in New Zealand, OSH investigated 74 work-related deaths last year - the largest number for a decade. Hundreds of others die each year of occupational illness. Our work-related death, accident and illness toll is totally unacceptable.”

In Dunedin on Monday Ross Wilson will launch a CTU campaign aimed at maximising the opportunities in new health and safety law to turn around our workplace toll of death, injury and illness.

“The Unions Talking Health and Safety campaign is about genuine worker involvement in health and safety,” said Ross Wilson.

“On May 5 our new workplace health and safety law will be in force and workers will have a real opportunity to make a difference to health and safely at work. “

MEDIA ADVISORY

International Workers’ Memorial Day April 28 April 28 is the International Day when union members around the world remember those workers who have lost their lives because of work - the huge number killed in work incidents and by occupational illnesses. New Zealand events - 2003 Auckland: Noon, Sunday April 27 Planting of a memorial grove at Michel Aherne Memorial, Corban Reserve, Henderson Valley Road, Waitakere City. Contact: Fritz Drissner 021 905 086

Whangarei, 12 noon, April 28 Combined union street march, followed by a tree planting. Contact: Glenn Howard 025 692 0624 Hamilton: 12:30 Monday 28 April A memorial Ceremony at the site of the Workers Memorial Plaque on the corner of Victoria and Grantham Streets. Contactr: Kim Gouk (07) 838 1980

Christchurch:11.30am, 28 April At Science Alive Reserve. Pigeons will be released to commemorate those who lost their lives last year because of work. Contact: Lynley Mulrine: (03) 328 8198

Wellington: Noon, Monday 28 April The trains will stop for a minute's silence and Rail and Maritime Union members will wear black armbands. Contact: Wayne Butson 025 96 2461

Dunedin: 11.30am, Monday 28 April Market Reserve - Manor Place Dunedin. CTU president Ross Wilson will launch the Unions Talking Health and Safety campaign and Mayor Sukhi Turner will unveil a memorial. Contact: Ross Wilson 0274 468 767

Invercargill: 5:30 p.m., Monday 28 April Trades Hall will be the scene of a combined union commemoration with local speakers. Lesley Soper: (03) 214 0477

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