John Hannett – Usdaw General Secretary says: “Every year more people are killed at work than in wars. Most don’t die of mystery ailments, or tragic ‘accidents’. They die because their safety just wasn’t that important a priority.

“Trade union health and safety reps are at the heart of safe and healthy work. For 40 years they have been organising to use their legal powers to inspect hazards at work to protect the workers they represent. Organise, inspect and protect.

“Unions often realise the risks long before management. It was unions that highlighted the dangers of asbestos, RSI, violence to staff, stress and other modern health and safety risks. Unions make a difference. Good employers are already working with unions. We need the rest to start recognising the benefits that unions can bring. We also need the Government and the HSE to do more to ensure that employers are consulting with their staff so that everyone can benefit from the union effect.

“Strong unions are the best protection for workers. Workplaces that have strong union representation typically have much lower fatality, injury and ill-health rates than those that do not. Research in this country and abroad has shown repeatedly that unions make a difference. Remember the dead and fight for the living.”

Notes for editors:
 
Usdaw (Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers) is the UK's fifth biggest and the fastest growing trade union with over 430,000 members. Membership has increased by more than 28% over the 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 Workers' Memorial Day Campaign: www.usdaw.org.uk/wmd
 
For Usdaw press releases visit: http://www.usdaw.org.uk/news and you can follow us on Twitter @UsdawUnion