John Hannett – Usdaw General Secretary says: “Today we take time to remember the dead and fight for the living. This year’s theme of strong laws, enforcement and unions absolutely identifies what is needed to make work safer, thereby preventing injuries and deaths through accidents and industrial diseases.
“Strong laws because many workers have inadequate legal protection from potentially deadly risks to their health at work and existing safety protection is under threat.
“Strong enforcement because even if we have health and safety laws in place, these are of no use if they are not enforced.
“Strong unions because we are the best protection for workers. Unionised workplaces are safer because trained reps hold employers to account to protect the health and safety of their members.
“Today Usdaw members across the UK are promoting the campaign in their own workplace or attending one of the local events organised around the country by Trades Councils and Hazards campaigners.”
Notes for editors:
Usdaw (Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers) is the UK's fourth biggest and the fastest growing trade union with over 430,000 members. Membership has increased by more than 17% in the last five years and by nearly a third in the last decade. Most Usdaw members work in the retail sector, but the Union also has many members in transport, distribution, food manufacturing, chemicals and other trades.
Usdaw’s WMD Campaign: http://www.usdaw.org.uk/wmd
For Usdaw press releases visit: www.usdaw.org.uk/news and you can follow us on Twitter @UsdawUnion