The Irish Congress of Trade Unions is asking workers and the general public to participate in the “We Remember them All” campaign for International Workers’ Memorial Day which takes place on Tuesday 28th April.
International Workers’ Memorial Day #IWMD20 has extra significance this year because of the risks involved for workers doing their jobs in the midst of the COVID-19 Pandemic.
President Michael D. Higgins and 5 key workers will participate in a wreath laying ceremony at Áras an Uachtaráin. Congress General Secretary Patricia King will also make an online address. (See Editor’s note below)
Separately a candle lighting event will happen at 21:00 hrs on Tuesday 28th April when workers and the public are being encouraged to participate by taking photographs of their candle and posting online at Facebook and Twitter etc.
In 2019, 46 people were killed in workplace accidents in Ireland while many more suffered life-changing injuries.
This year on International Workers’ Memorial Day we commemorate all those who died from COVID-19. We remember healthcare workers and all other workers who died through exposure at work.
This crisis has demonstrated, as never before, the importance of protecting the safety, health and welfare of all people, whether at home or in the workplace.
It has also shown the importance of investing in good public healthcare, investing in good conditions for healthcare workers and other frontline workers, and the need to ensure sick pay and other provisions to protect the wages and jobs of all.
*EDITORIAL NOTE: President Michael D. Higgins will pre-record his address tomorrow Monday 27th April at the Áras and we will upload this so as the event, involving key workers and a short address by Patricia King and music, will go out on social media platforms on the following day, Tuesday April 28th at 11am.
PLEASE NOTE: A broadcast quality recording of the ceremony will be available on request from Congress Communications Office. Press photographs available from Maxwell Photography: Contact Tony Maxwell 087 255 8081).
More information at:
https://www.ictu.ie/healthandsafety/workers-memorial-day/remember-them-all.html
Contact : Conor Kavanagh, Congress Communications Office, 086 811 6607
conor.kavanagh@ictu.ie