Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Workers Memorial Day - remember the dead
Workers Memorial Day - remember the dead, fight for the living
Workers will gather in locations all over New Zealand tomorrow (April 28) to mark International Workers Memorial Day. It is a time to remember the estimated 100 workers who have died in the workplace in the previous year, and the 700 to 1000 people who have died prematurely from long term diseases and conditions caused by their work.
The International Trade Union Confederation has chosen ‘Unions make work safer’ as the common theme for this year’s day of action. “It is above all unions who are the driving force behind safer working practices and environment,” said CTU Secretary Peter Conway. “Historically it has been unions who have been responsible for identifying, publicising and campaigning against unsafe work. Today in New Zealand it is still unions who take a lead in training and providing workplace health and safety representatives, and drawing attention to threats such as methyl bromide in the timber industry.”
“April 28 is about reminding ourselves that however much things may have improved there is still a long fight for the safety of all those who face potentially fatal hazards every day. The past year has seen a number of negative developments such as: the systematic dismantling of ACC and the return of employers’ experience rating; the disestablishment of the National Occupational Health and Safety Advisory Committee (NOHSAC); the repeal of recently enacted rest breaks legislation; and the threat to roll back the fourth week of leave.”
“There is an emerging trend in health and safety of psychosocial factors such as stress and bullying to add to the dangers of our long hours work culture. Accidents and long term physical and mental damage stem directly from inadequate time out of work for personal regeneration. These are issues which we must address as vigorously as faulty equipment and risky behaviour in the workplace.”
“New Zealand has a poor health and safety record by OECD standards, and unions pledge on April 28 to continue the fight to make work a place that people approach with confidence, not fear.”
ENDS
New Zealand Council of Trade Unions
Te Kauae Kaimahi
The New Zealand Council of Trade Unions Te Kauae Kaimahi brings together over 350,000 New Zealand union members in 40 affiliated unions. We are the united voice for working people and their families in New Zealand.
Gordon Campbell: On unemployment, Winston Peters’ low boiling point and music criticism
NZ Government: Government Recommits To Equal Pay
Emily Ireland - Local Democracy Reporter: Deputy Mayor ‘disgusted’ By Response To Georgina Beyer Sculpture
Te Pāti Māori: Māori Unemployment Rate Increases By More Than Four-Times National Rates
Government: Streamlining Building Consent Changes
Koi Tu - The Centre for Informed Futures: If Not Journalists, Then Who?
FIRST Union: May Day, The Biggest Threat To NZ Workers In 2024 Is Our Government
