GSG 12-26 WORKERS’ MEMORIAL DAY 2026
22/April/2026
Description
The National Commemoration for Workers’ Memorial Day will take place on Tuesday , 28th April 2026 at 9:30 a.m. in the Garden of Remembrance, Dublin. The commemoration will be led by ICTU and supported by Government, IBEC, the Health and Safety Authority and CIF.
This is an important occasion where we remember and honour those who have died in workplaces and acknowledge the impact their loss has on their families, friends and work colleagues. In Ireland last year 63 workers lost their lives in workplace incidents and so far this year another 7 have lost their lives. The figures for last year show an alarming increase in the level of fatalities and show that we can never be complacent when it comes to workplace fatalities. In addition to the above we must also remember the thousands of workers who have suffered ill health or been injured as a result of work.
It is proven that good Occupational Safety and Health policies work in making workplaces safer and healthier. A key part of those workplace practices is having genuine consultative mechanisms in place and actively having workers involved in creating a safety culture. This can be achieved through worker selected Safety Representatives.
Workers Memorial Day is also an opportunity for Trade Unions to highlight workplace health and safety issues and we are encouraging all Branches to highlight the day and we have set out below suggestions as to how Branches can do this:
- Request Safety Representatives to carry out Safety Inspections or highlight safety issues at all work locations.
- Organise the election of a workplace Safety Representative where one is not in place
- Hold a minute’s silence to remember all colleagues who have died.
- Post pictures of activities or events and share them on social media
- Please use the hashtag #WorkersMemorialDay, #WMD26 and tag CWU and other relevant organisations such as the HSA, CIF and IBEC
It is important that we continue to fight for the living and take every opportunity to remind employers of their legal obligations to ensure the highest standard of safety in the workplace. We must also ensure that employers engage in real and genuine consultation with their workers through Safety and Union Reps.
The Union will remain to the fore in ensuring the highest standards in working and we will continue to advocate for safer working conditions for all employees. We all have a responsibility to highlight issues of concern relating to health and safety. All workers are entitled to work in a safe workplace and their families are entitled to expect them to return home safely at the end of the working day. Unionised workplaces are safer workplaces And worker elected Safety Representatives make a real difference.
Please bring this circular to the attention of all members.